the talents of mail carriers
I didn't shovel the walk on my way out to the market, for reasons that basically amount to hoping that someone else--downstairs neighbor or Roomie--would happen along during my absence and do it instead. I did, after all, do it yesterday. But no one did, so when I got back I tossed the groceries in the entryway and began shoveling. After a moment, the guy I hadn't noticed fighting with the snowbank across the street came over to ask if he could borrow my shovel to help dig his car out.
I proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes trying to dig the poor guy's car out of the snowbank. He had just been driving by and skidded in, apparently, and he was stuck but good. He and I dug and pushed in intervals. A woman walking her dog stopped and helped. Then another guy who had managed to successfully park his own car nearby came to lend a hand as well. The wheels on the car spun round and round, and we made absolutely no progress.
Enter the mail carrier. Apparently this was his third car to free today, and he also got two unstuck yesterday. I suppose this is a talent people develop when they spend their days walking around badly-plowed side streets. He had the car out in less than five minutes (with the rest of us pushing).
I should take my camera out to document the amount of snow we have on the ground right now: I'm pretty sure it's the most I've ever seen on the ground at one time, barring ski resorts. More than two feet, all told, I'm sure. It's already the snowiest winter in a very long time (and ranks number 2 since 1930, apparently), with more on tap for Friday. To say that I'm sick of all this mess would be a vast understatement.
I proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes trying to dig the poor guy's car out of the snowbank. He had just been driving by and skidded in, apparently, and he was stuck but good. He and I dug and pushed in intervals. A woman walking her dog stopped and helped. Then another guy who had managed to successfully park his own car nearby came to lend a hand as well. The wheels on the car spun round and round, and we made absolutely no progress.
Enter the mail carrier. Apparently this was his third car to free today, and he also got two unstuck yesterday. I suppose this is a talent people develop when they spend their days walking around badly-plowed side streets. He had the car out in less than five minutes (with the rest of us pushing).
I should take my camera out to document the amount of snow we have on the ground right now: I'm pretty sure it's the most I've ever seen on the ground at one time, barring ski resorts. More than two feet, all told, I'm sure. It's already the snowiest winter in a very long time (and ranks number 2 since 1930, apparently), with more on tap for Friday. To say that I'm sick of all this mess would be a vast understatement.