An Overabundance Of Snow

Summary

A resident expresses frustration with the excessive snowfall, the challenges of manual snow removal, and the impact on daily life, while acknowledging some positive aspects of the snowy weather.

Abstract

The article discusses the negative effects of a heavy snowfall on daily life, including the labor-intensive task of shoveling snow and the inconveniences it causes, such as hazardous driving conditions and obstructed sidewalks. The author, having spent considerable time shoveling, criticizes the lack of reliable electric snow blowers and the environmental impact of gas-powered ones. Despite these issues, the author recognizes the beauty of falling snow and the community spirit that emerges as neighbors help each other. Snow shoveling is also noted to have meditative qualities, promoting mindfulness and relaxation, albeit temporarily. The prospect of engaging in winter activities with grandchildren offers a glimmer of joy amidst the harsh weather.

Opinions

Snow is aesthetically pleasing when falling but becomes a nuisance once it accumulates on the ground.
Manual snow removal is a necessity due to the lack of reliable electric snow blowers and the environmental concerns of gas-powered ones.
Winter sports enthusiasts and children enjoy the snow for activities like skiing and sledding, but these benefits are not shared by everyone.
The snow creates dangerous driving conditions and obstructs sidewalks, leading to treacherous walking conditions for pedestrians, especially children going to school.
Snowplows exacerbate the situation by often blocking driveways after they have been cleared.
Positive aspects include the community coming together to help clear snow for the elderly and the meditative nature of the shoveling process.
The author looks forward to the possibility of participating in snowball fights and building snowmen with grandchildren.

Enough Already!

All right, let’s get the syrupy stuff out of the way, snow does look very pretty when it is falling down. It covers up a lot of man-made defects. That’s true, but reality hits hard once it is on the ground, on your driveway, your stairs, and the sidewalk in front of your house. I just finished my second ninety-minute shift of shovelling so far today. The temperature is ten degrees below freezing, the wind is blowing, and it is still snowing. Already a foot of snow has fallen. What about a snow-blower you might ask. Well, the heavy-duty ones are all gas-guzzling polluting monsters. There are no reliable electric ones as yet capable of removing over six inches of the whiteness. So manual snow removal is the order of the day for my wife and me.

Now there are many people in my part of the country who love winter sports, especially skiers for whom this storm is a godsend. The natural packed powder makes for the best ski conditions for these enthusiasts. Kids like it if it means school is cancelled for the day. Sledding can be exciting, but there are no sleds any more in this household. Unless you count snow shovelling as a sport, which you would be crazy to do, the snow is neither fun nor adventurous. On the contrary, it makes for treacherous driving conditions even with all-wheel drive. Then there are other aggravations. Such as the people, and there are all too many of them in our town, who only clear their own driveways. This often means creating walls of snow blocking the sidewalk. Having a dog who despite the weather insists on his three walks a day, means having to walk in the streets which are narrowed because of the mounds of snow on both sides of the road. And, of course, drivers don’t want to slow down for mere pedestrians. More importantly, it makes for dangerous walking for kids going to school. Then there are the town snowplows. The drivers of which seem to like nothing better than to block your driveway entrance after you have already cleared it. It has happened four times already today. Sigh!

There are some redeeming features that come out of the storm experiences. There are neighbours who help shovel or snow blow the walks and driveways of nearby elderly residents. People helping others always brings a warm feeling to my otherwise frozen self. Another benefit is that snow shovelling is a mindless activity that paradoxically requires total awareness, living in the moment, and thus can be relaxing. That effect lasts until you are finished and every part of your body starts to ache.

There is possibly one more positive thing that could come out of this miserable weather. When next we visit our grandchildren, they might invite me to join in with them on a snowball fight, or let me use one of their sleds I might even help them build a snow person. I am easily tempted to relive my childhood activities through and with them.

Now it is time to gird my loins and go back out and shovel.