It was a week of struggle and triumph in our little neighbourhood last week as we coped with the winter storms that plummeted Grey & Bruce Counties.
Six households share the small side street, all visible to each other therefore easily surveyed for signs of life and progress digging out. A new neighbour with an obvious back injury was not long shoveling by himself. Help arrived from several directions like a well trained SWAT team easily dispatched to assist.
The initial flurry and fuss slowed to a steady pace by mid week and a cycle of work, rest and fun was established. Daily check ins were the norm and collaboration ensured the best approach to broken snow blowers and snowman sized boulders at the end of our lanes. Everyone was eventually able to come and go – if they wanted to.
As fun as it is to meet the challenges of so much snow, my favourite part is when we surrender and decide that resistance is futile. I love that moment of doing a quick inventory of essentials and realizing that, yes, we’ll survive just fine for a day or two. When there is no worry about getting out or going anywhere and there’s nothing to do but enjoy the beauty around us; from a warm, snug spot by the fire.
Friday afternoon was just such a time. Neighbours arrived bearing all things necessary for a snow day celebration; music, wine and snacks. We played euchre, cribbage, scrabble, sang some tunes and got to know each other a little better. Nothing like a shared work project to pull folks together.
Let it snow, let it snow.
