The cats are busy this morning with the semi-finals of the latest cat hockey tournament. Normally, I’d sit, have coffee, and watch, recalling the days when my Grey Canadian cat, Clancy, introduced me to the game.
But this morning, I had shoveling to do, so I was outside removing fresh powder and applying anti-ice treatment to the walk. Opposite me, my neighbor was doing the same thing. He used some new-fangled wedge-shaped shovel that he swore was the best since sliced bread.
I sneered, and the race was on. Two elderly coots pushing and shoving the best we could. The first to clear the driveway at the end of the lot would win. No prize, just bragging rights. Best two out of three, he shouted as we turned the corner and began shoveling madly in the reverse direction. Down the street, there was the distinct roar of a snow blower making fast work of the three inches of powder. We laughed. A blower versus a mere three inches? Hah!
By the time we finished in a dead heat, we looked more like the huff and puff team than victorious warriors fresh from the victory.
Behind us, there was a hodgepodge of spots we had missed. Leaning on our shovels, we agreed it was half-time and went in for a coffee and to watch a cat hockey game thriller. I put my money on Sabrina. Marcus has some good moves, but she is just plain vicious!
What can I say? It’s January in New England, and you do what you can to get through the damned winter!
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Been there, done that. This is why I now live in the San Francisco Bay area, where we never have snow to shovel. Wildfires, yes. Earthquakes, yes. Mudslides, yes. But having to shovel snow, no!
Thou dost protest overmuch! You know you miss that burn in your shoulders after shoveling. How you”skate” on the spot where you missed removing that patch of ice!
Shit! What am I saying! I hate this stuff!
I can remember my dad shoveling our driveway and making it all the way to the street only to have the snowplow come by and block in the end of the drive. Bad timing!!
One of the true challenges of New England life
You do realise, if you wait long enough, it’ll go away all on its own?
I tried that one year…three months later, all my neighbors were really pissed at me.
I feel your pain. The 20 inches of wet MF crap we got in November is still on the ground in some spots and proved my nemesis.
It’s the ice that lurks beneath that really causes the problems.
The ice covered a root and was covered with snow and leaves. I had no chance. It had laid a trap and I fell for it. OH well…