I just shovelled three driveways and sidewalks. Mine, and two neighbors.
No one asked me to do this. But I was up early this morning, since my dog woke me (and if she weren’t so cute, she’d be so dead for doing so). I woke not only to a cold wet nose, but a white winter wonderland outside. At least three inches.
So I looked around, dug our snowshovel out of the garage, and started shovelling. Inevitably, I knew, I’d have to do it. My dad isn’t currently living at home (long story which doesn’t involve seperation/divorce), and my mom is having back troubles. It’s not even something worth arguing with her over. So I shovelled our front walk and driveway, found some rock salt in our basement, and sprinkled that around. Then I headed inside, had some hot tea, thawed my fingers a little.
Then, I went back outside. My next-door-neighbor has four kids. She’s a single mother who’s coming out of an abusive relationship. I knew her kids (If I don’t go to karate, I usually look after her kids on Friday nights so she can cook in peace) are spending the weekend with their grandparents. What the heck - I cleared her sidewalk, too. I also, while I was on a roll, got the driveway and front walk of an elderly neighbor. He always says hi to me when he’s sitting out on his front porch, always offers a smile. One small act of kindness deserves another.
When I got back inside, my mother asked where I’d been. I told her. That was hours ago; this is the first Saturday in a long time we’ve made it to mid-afternoon without exchanging harsh words.
I feel good about myself right now.
