Romancing the snow storm.
The paradox of snowstorms is that on one hand it keeps people indoors but at the same time it often creates an opportunity to connect with your neighbors.
I was driving home from work the other day, not really looking forward to grab my snow shovel for the third time. I had cleared the sidewalks and dug my car out in the morning - twice because the snowplow passed just as I was almost done. Their timing is impeccable, have you noticed? I had then shoveled the stairs and the sidewalk in front of Old Town Hall. That's a WIDE sidewalk... (luckily it is usually done by the time I open shop but that was the day of the BIG one and the plowing company showed up much later). And because it WAS such a big storm I knew I would have to shovel again as soon as I got home.
Well, I didn't have to.
The sidewalks were almost all clear of snow. The man responsible for this was still out there putting the finishing touches to his selfless act. So I got a chance to thank him. We shook mittens and chatted a bit.
He is actually not even a neighbor: "I am seeing this girl down the street" he told me. And being retired, generous with his time and the proud owner of a snow blower, he comes every snowstorm to clear her driveway and her sidewalk. Then he plows his "girl's" neighbor out because she is 86, and then he plows my sidewalk because his "girl's" parents used to own the house I live in now.
So nice and romantic I thought, this elderly gentleman plowing his girlfriend's neighborhood. A little warmth in this frigid winter.
And a reminder of one of my new Year's Resolution: try not to be so dogmatic! I had already accepted that my goal of driving a greasecar had been severely diluted with diesel, and I had enjoyed the paradox of cross country skiing on the the packed paths that snowmobiles leave in the woods. Now I was grateful that I didn't have to shovel....
By the way, did you know that the average snowblower creates about one pound of carbon monoxide emission per hour? That's equivalent to driving a car for about 70 miles!
What? Oh yes, my New Year's resolution...
Sorry!
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