Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Snow, and Memories.

Snow.

We got 2-3 inches yesterday by the time it stopped. Not much at all, especially compared to the Michigan snowfalls that I remember from my youth. But it was enough to coat the mountain here with white, and keep the trash trucks and fed-ex from coming up here. Wusses.
I remember growing up, how even an inch would have my dad out there with a snow shovel, clearing the whole driveway and the sidewalk. It didn't matter if the sun was going to come out the next day and the temps would be in the 40's, that driveway was going to get cleaned off today and so was the public sidewalk in front of our house and our own walk leading up to the front door. That was just part and parcel to being a homeowner and no one was going to have to trudge through snow in front of our house, not even if the only person out walking was the mailman. Yeah, they used to go out in the snow, too, back in the day.

Well that notion of his stuck with me over the years, and to this day, I can't look at an unshoveled driveway without reaching for the nearest snow shovel, even if it's a steeply inclined drive like mine and no one is expected to come over.

This one's for you, pop.

Happy Birthday, Pop. Couldn't find a picture of you with a snow shovel, but we sure had fun with the Uzi that summer day back on '07, didn't we?
My Dad. January 7, 1942 to October 2, 2012. Still missed.

14 comments:

  1. For the past three days we've had snow overnight of less than an inch per night but enough to make the Driveway of Doom slick and slippy. So I've been shoveling it each morning which is annoying.

    Good to see your Dad imparted his work ethic to you.

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  2. Two sturdy dogs harnessed to a snow plow might be your answer.

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    1. Meh. They'd just plow a path into my crazy cat neighbor's yard.

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  3. Good yardly duties taken care of in case of immediate exit. LOL. It's just the way we were raised. I am now rebelling and just driving over it, creating a fun adventure type atmosphere. Love the pic of your dad.

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  4. Wow, he was young. Dads make a big hole when they leave us, don't they?
    Also, I like the suggestion about hitching the dogs to a plow. Whatever works!

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  5. Great write up; we thought of your Dad this morning, too.
    Love you.

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  6. Well done sir. Well done.

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  7. Wish I could have met your Dad.

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  8. Your Dad looks a lot like you - the same fire in the eyes. You did good on the driveway and your house is REALLY cool.

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  9. Anonymous11:58 PM

    Due to my back problems I can no longer shovel snow.
    Your dad would be proud of you keeping up the shoveling tradition.

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  10. Anonymous9:16 AM

    A guy with one leg SHOVELS his driveway.
    I guess I better stop bitching about moving snow at work using a snow thrower.
    Well done.

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  11. Anonymous9:45 AM

    Nothing like a father. Best regards to you. https://eatgrueldog.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/a-letter-to-my-father/

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  12. I echo the nice. That pretty much says it all.

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