I grumbled a bit at the snow dumped in my lap this week. Winter or not, it had been dry most of the month, and I was spoiled. The new snow made my muscles ache just thinking about shoveling and driving in it. I again questioned our summertime purchase of a house on hilly terrain.
Once outside after Monday's storm, though, it took only minutes to remind me why we chose this home. The house itself, Jeff and I often say, was an afterthought. It was the neighborhood that clinched the deal.
We had only gut feelings then, but how right we were to believe this is a place where neighbors are truly neighborly. We've seen it in countless acts of service, all year long.
Monday's storm was yet another occasion for me to watch my neighbors digging each other out, clearing walks that aren't even theirs. I've seen one neighbor push his snowblower all the way to the elementary school to clear a path for the children -- my children. All of his own are grown.
I've lived in snowy places all my adult life, but nothing like this. Some places, I'm sad to say, I never once saw someone shovel another's driveway. Here, snowstorms aren't marked in inches, but in the measure of goodwill.
I love it!
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Taking a break to enjoy the details really helped me on my crazy morning Wednesday. Sometimes snow falls in just a wet mess, but these snowflakes were discernibly unique. It was a challenge for me to take a picture of them with only my camera's basic lens, and they melted so soon after landing on the black railing. Still, I'm glad I took time out of my day to watch and to try. We live in a beautiful world. I was refreshed.
3 comments:
I can't believe you captured those snowflake pictures! I'm glad you moved into this neighborhood. You definitely add to the goodwill and neighborliness. (A word?)
These pictures are amazing and beautiful! It is nice to step back and look at how gorgeous "life" can be around you! Thanks for sharing!
I have to chime in on my own post. My dad read this the other day when I was in the room. "What do you mean you never saw anyone shovel someone else's driveway?" he jokingly chided me. "What about me?!" (That's why I said "all my ADULT life.")
My dad, of course, is the consummate good snow fellow, always clearing his neighbors' paths. That's something I saw all the while growing up. Which I guess is why it's so comforting to now be in a place where my neighbors are like him.
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