Relative Something

I have been a shoveling fool lately. Some of it, by choice. Last week we had some sleet/freezing rain/snow that really needed to be cleaned off the driveway and sidewalk or risk the chance it might freeze up for good. I hustled to get it done in the final moments before leaving town for the weekend. Then, the very next day, I went and shoveled the rink up at the lake. That was something I probably didn’t have to do, but it was a labor of love to prepare a rink for boot hockey to serve the Hays clan planning to gather next weekend. After a day of that shoveling, I was instructed to move the grill out so we could use it to cook Saturday’s dinner. The path to do that required shoveling, and it proved to be the toughest foe I would face. When the driveway up at the lake had been plowed, they dumped a pile right in front of the walkway to the lower deck and by that time it had set up like concrete. I chipped away at it in small chunks until I got it cleared. The next day I pushed a lot of powder snow to make piles for creating blocks to the igloo. Then came Monday’s 7 inch snowfall and I was back in the driveway at home moving massive amounts of snow. Overnight, another couple more inches accumulated, but I didn’t have time to tend to it in the morning so the wonderful wake of the city snowplow that filled the end of the driveway was able to set for the whole day until I got to it late last night.

I do love to shovel snow, but I also really love not shoveling snow, if you know what I mean.

There is something satisfying about the appearance of freshly cleared snow that is even more rewarding if it is the result of your own labor. However, back before Christmas, when we got hit by a series of significant snowfalls, one after another, I didn’t hesitate to accept, when my neighbor offered to clear the pile a the end of the driveway with his snow blower. As much as I enjoy the chore, I didn’t want to deny my neighbor the opportunity to help out.

My willingness to accept assistance notwithstanding… lately, with the snowfalls and my weekend plans combining in such concise timing, my affinity for shoveling is proving to reveal me as quite the glutton for punishment.