Snowblower guilt

Posted by Dave Klamet January 31, 2010 at 9:17 p.m.

Just before the big Christmas blizzard, my next door neighbor and I had the foresight, or dumb luck, to purchase a snowblower. We purchased one much larger than we thought we would ever need.

We were wrong.

After the storm, my neighbor and I each did our own driveways, Then he did the driveway of the house next to him and I did the driveway of the lady next to me. The snow was really deep and shoveling that much snow would clearly be a monumental task for anyone.

It wasn't long before the young couple down the street came to ask for help as they had a large driveway and several vehicles. Then there were a couple of cars on the street that the snowplow had trapped with large ridges of snow.

As I finished that, I noticed a lady with a shovel working on the walk from her front door.

Well, I couldn't stand there with a large snowblower and let her face that task, so over I went and started on her driveway.

Across the street, the snow was deep enough that I couldn't tell where the driveway ended and the lawn began, but I did clear some of the snow behind and beside one vehicle.

Then, since I'd done that, I went down and did another driveway because it didn't seem fair to just arbitrarily stop, leaving some who'd gotten their driveways cleared and some who hadn't.

As you might guess, by 5 o'clock, I was pretty darn tired. The light was starting to fade, but I had only made it part way up my street. Some had gotten their driveways cleared and some had not.

Now, let me say that the motivation for my relating this tale is not that I want everyone to think that I am a nice guy, it is this letter to the editor by Dr. Steven Bruner.

As I'm sure I've said before, during my mother's final years I've spent a lot of time in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, waiting rooms, doctor's offices, assisted care facilities, and I can't recall what else. On occasion I've had occasion to talk to a few doctor's about insurance companies and the other bains of their profession. Anyone who's spent much time dealing with health insurance companies, patient or health care provider must surely see the system is crazy. I had the routine test that you're supposed to have when you turn 50 (even though I don't feel that old). It took a year and several phone calls to the insurance company, my doctor's office, the insurance company again. And this was neither the first time with this company, nor the first insurance company I've been through this with.

Have you spent any time in "assisted care" facilities? Places filled with old people with nothing to do and few visitors. My mother was fortunate to be there only for short periods after hospital stays. I know that there are many more that spend their last years in places like that.

So, anyway, as I stood their with my snowblower as the light faded on that picturesque winter scene, I felt more than a little guilt for all those people who would be struggling with the huge drifts of snow. I just couldn't help them all.

Reading Dr. Bruner's letter made me think of that day. Though the consequences of not clearing those drives is much less than that of someone not getting the medical care they need, I think I understand his point.

No, I'm not trying to persuade you to support a national healthcare plan. I am trying to convince you that the status quo is really screwed up and you should expect better.

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devobrun (anonymous) says…

Shoveling snow is hard. You like helping people. Nursing homes are sad. Somebody should do something about health care.

I feel, therefore I am.

That about sums up the modern world.
"Tax the rich, feed the poor.
'Till there are no rich no more
I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do.
So I'll leave it up to you."

Ten Years After.

Not to worry, Dave. The clouds will blow away. The sun will warm things up. You'll cheer up.
February 1, 2010 at 6:35 a.m.
yankeevet (anonymous) says…

I am going too buy a snowblower; and help my neighbors.....
February 1, 2010 at 11:55 a.m.
Outsidelookingin (anonymous) says…

Great article!
I too run a the snow blower up and down the block I live on. There are elderly people living on fixed incomes that always want to pay, or at least help with the gas. They don't want any charity. I just tell them to wave when we pass and that's all I need.
Again great article.
February 1, 2010 at 12:25 p.m.
Newell_Post (anonymous) says…

I used to think snow blowers were silly. But that was before I ruined my back shoveling snow in 1992. No more show shovels for me....
February 1, 2010 at 12:41 p.m.
devobrun (anonymous) says…

Hey Dave, I've got 3 acres of grass to mow this summer.
If you plan ahead, then I don't have to.
See ya in April, and thanks again buddy.
February 1, 2010 at 2:04 p.m.
dklamet (Dave Klamet) says…

I like to mow grass, but not quite that much. :-)

The spiel about healthcare was, perhaps, an odd combination of subjects, but to me, Dr. Bruner's letter made a connection that brought the snowblower story to mind.

My tearcher's always told me I had a different way of looking at things.
February 2, 2010 at 12:59 a.m.
leedavid (anonymous) says…

Of course when the next snow storm comes the neighbors will look to Dave and expect help. Over time Dave will have taught them to rely on him for snow removal rather than self reliance. Reminds us all of the teach a person to fish biblical story. Just like many do for their healthcare today. I'm all infavor of helping those that can't help themselves. I'm also a fan of teaching people to fish.

Side note, something urgently needs to be done about healthcare just not the bills that are presently being discussed.
February 2, 2010 at 3:29 a.m.
devobrun (anonymous) says…

Dave, perhaps the connection between the two is based upon a natural desire to help people.

There's really only one thing wrong with helping people. They're people. You can love them, care for them, feel guilty that there are others who don't have what you have. But those are your feelings.

After you help them, the same people will return. They didn't plan ahead in their life for snow, grass, their own health or anything else.

So, to soothe your feelings you help. Good. You will get a thank you for your help. You will be asked again for help. It will continue until it gets uncomfortable and you have to put a stop to some of your help. The same people who don't plan ahead for their needs are the people who will ask for help over and over.

Their numbers are growing in the U.S. because the government is willing to help with other people's money.

So Dave, be in touch with your feelings. But think before getting over committed to your neighbors. Be cautious about using the power of the government to take money from some people and give it to others for helping health insurance. You probably will be taken advantage of by people who don't plan ahead for their own lives.

Can I borrow your pickup truck? Got a little moving job this Saturday. Need to move a coupla sticks of furniture. One of them is a fold-out couch. Could you help with that? Its upstairs.
I'll bring over a 6 of Natural Light......
February 2, 2010 at 8:04 a.m.
nut_case (anonymous) says…

LOL - not to be grammar police, but:

"Now, let me say that the motivation for my relating this tail is not that I ..."

tail –noun
1. the hindmost part of an animal, esp. that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk.
...etc

tale –noun
1. a narrative that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story: a tale about Lincoln's dog.

...etc
February 2, 2010 at 8:12 a.m.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…

Excellent blog, Dave. My husband is the same way--if we had a snowblower, I have no doubt he'd do the whole neighborhood. I sometimes give him a hard time about givin his time away, but in truth the world needs more of that kind of thoughtfulness and generosity.
February 2, 2010 at 10:34 a.m.
dklamet (Dave Klamet) says…

nut_case, you are the second person who's helped me proof my post, guess I need a copy editor.

When I was younger, I never used to use the wrong spelling for words... Don't know if I just have diminished mental faculties....or maybe I'm just terrible at proofing stuff....or more likely a bit of both.

Maybe I should send my posts to you to copy edit before I post them?
February 2, 2010 at 9:14 p.m.
RalphGage (Ralph Gage) says…

Very nice, Dave.
After I hurt my back shoveling the driveway after the last snow, I went overboard on a snowblower-- one of a few to be found. I am waiting for the next storm to blow through. I will clear the neighborhood!
On the other hand, my brother's friend and neighbor had a fatal heart attack clearing snow--with a snowblower.
Take care out there.
February 3, 2010 at 1:24 a.m.
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…

We didn't need to shovel our driveway and it wasn't because a good samaritan came to our rescue. We didn't need to shovel because both my wife and I have four wheel drive cars.

Now, I'm not trying to sell you on self-reliance, I'm just saying the status quo is what you make of it.
February 4, 2010 at 6:13 p.m.
Starlight (anonymous) says…

Last winter the next door neighbor got a snowblower. First big snow he cleared his drive, then the ones across the street, then ours and the neighbor on our other side. Next storm his and the couple of drives across the street. Then just his. This Christmas I laid in bed hoping I would hear his machine fire up but there was just a hushed quiet. They didn't get home for a few days having spent the holiday with their kids. The 4X4 came in really handy getting to family for our Christmas day. The neighbor helped push my car free in the driveway a few days later. He really is a nice guy.
February 4, 2010 at 10:24 p.m.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…

Not to knock the self-congratulatory swagger out of Liberty, but we didn't need a snowblower, either, and we don't have 4-wd cars. We just plowed through it--in fact, we left here during the Christmas blizzard in our little Toyota and drove about 130 miles to my husband's folks' house. Didn't have any problems, despite lacking that expensive 4-WD option. Imagine that.

Dave and the others with snowblowers are not saying they'd have been as helpless as flounders on a dance floor without them, but having one is just a nice convenience--and allows thoughtful people to do a kind service for their neighbors.

I grew up in the north, long enough ago that nobody had 4-WD-drive cars or (in my working class neighborhood) snowblowers. You just learned how to cope with snow and handle your car strategically, since you could expect snow for the better part of five months each year.

In later years, my dad, who could have driven circles around all the Liberty275s and their 4-WD SUVs, in any kind of snow or ice, even behind the wheel of one of those RWD Buicks he drove in the 1960s, got himself a snowblower AND a 4-WD truck.....but he wasn't smug about having either one.
February 5, 2010 at 10:20 p.m.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…

Oops-- pardon the redundant "-drive" in that last post. Typing & watching "Airplane" at the same time and the movie's getting the lion's share of my attention.
February 5, 2010 at 10:26 p.m.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…

Surely, you don't think I'd do that, do you?
February 5, 2010 at 11:29 p.m.