Snow Day

The snow this morning was already about 10 inches high when I woke up. I ate breakfast, got dressed and told my girls (who were still in their pajamas, happy to have a day off from school) that I was going to shovel the driveway. The snow was thick and heavy, not powdery and light as it had been over the weekend.

Of course it was.

When my husband is home to help me it snows big, soft flakes. When I’m home alone, freezing rain and snow pummel me while I struggle. The work is back-breaking.

I set the shovel on the driveway and made my way to the bottom of our 50-foot driveway (yes, it’s at least that long). Funny, the long driveway was a draw when we first bought the house because it was a safe place for my then-toddler and her baby sister to ride their bikes and scooters. Today, I wasn’t feeling the love. Today, I think I cursed that driveway.

I glanced down the street and saw two elderly men trying to shovel their driveways. I thought about a comment one of my neighbors once wrote on this blog. I had been complaining about my neighbors and she said I should help others in need rather than always think of myself. “Darn you, MLK,” I said to myself. “Why do you have to be right?”

I swung the shovel over my shoulder and walked down to the street. I stopped at my neighbor’s house first and asked if he needed help. “Are you serious?” he asked, laughing. He glanced at my still full driveway.

“Yeah,” I said. “Can I help you shovel?”

“No, I have a snow blower,” he said.

“Oh, okay,” I said. I continued to the house where a very old man was working hard. “Can I help you?” I asked.

“No, no,” he said. I knew he was being polite. I ignored him and started shoveling.

“I can’t believe how heavy this snow is,” I said.

“I know,” he said. “I just wanted to find the paper.”

“Oh, I bet it’s not here yet,” I said.

“No, it is. I saw them deliver it,” he said.

A few strokes later and I saw the yellow wrapper. “Found it!” I said.

“Thanks!” he said.

Just as we were about to finish his neighbor, who also had a snow blower next to him, came over to help.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” I said.

He waved good-bye.

I went back to my driveway and continued. My back and legs began to ache. I stopped to take a break and saw all three men go into their homes. I started to laugh. I decided not to be upset and instead told myself: “You don’t do good deeds so others will return the favor. You do good deeds because it’s the right thing to do.”

I decided to be thankful I was able to get a little exercise that day and finished the job. Then I realized I had another task still at hand – the sidewalk. We don’t have many in our town, but on the routes to school there are sidewalks and those whose properties border them are responsible for clearing the entire walkway.

I was so exhausted I wanted to cry.

I walked up the street and got to the driveway. There, staring me in the face was my good deed come back to smile upon me. The neighbor behind us, whose walk I have shoveled a few times, had cleared the entire way with his snow blower. “Thank you,” I said out loud. “Thank you so much.” (I called them the second I got in the house and thanked them profusely.)

I wish this story were over. But four hours later it appears as if I have done absolutely nothing outside. Several inches (perhaps a foot?) of snow have fallen since, and it’s coming down in huge amounts still.

I may have to beg someone to help me this time.

Photo by Sas Skkalich, courtesy of stock.xchng