Call in the National Guard we have a snow emergency

I may sound as if I am making fun, but I am not. When I would tell people in Illinois that I don't know how to drive in the snow (I do now since I have lived there) they couldn't believe it. "Well what happens when it snows at home?" I would always hear. "Well if it's bad enough, then we just don't go anywhere." I would respond. I heard comments like oh that's crazy, you can't just shut down the city like that. Or you're just wimpy and don't know HOW to deal with snow. All have been wrong and although this is the worst storms this area has seen in 40 years it proves that we are not crazy or wimpy and yes snow CAN nearly shut down a city...even an entire metro area. Now I have never seen a storm this bad before, but it reminds me of the times we would just stay at home for a day or so. This storm is requiring us staying in a whole lot longer. I have not left the house since Friday and don't know when I will. It is Monday night and it looks as though we may not be warming up until Christmas Day or after. It's crazy. I just looked at the news online and Gresham, OR has been declared a state of emergency and the National Guard has indeed been called up to help. I never thought I would see snow like this anywhere but the mountain, but here it is right in our front yard. On the bright side though we will have a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!!