While I was outside this morning clearing snow from the insane blizzard that pummeled Iowa City and the entire Midwest last night, a fond memory passed through my head…This is EXACTLY what my dad used to do in winter. In an instant I was 10 again, and my mind raced with thoughts of him getting out of bed at 3 o’clock in the morning to start the tractor with the scoop on the front, blade on the back and tire chains on the 3-point hitch—just in case he needed them—and headed off on his 2-mile trip to Cambridge to clear parking lots and driveways.
Dad was a farmer. Although he had a ninth-grade education, he had impeccable math skills and used a paper and pencil to calculate things like harvest yields and fertiziler applications. He was the kind of man who would do anything for anyone and never ask for anything in return. In winter (the off-season), businesses would pay him for clearing snow from their parking lots, and most people would pay him for clearing snow from their driveways, but never more than they could afford…he insisted (and you didn’t argue.) As a 10-year-old it was pretty cool to see dad come home at 8 p.m. after 16 hours in a tractor with a pocket full of tens and twenties. It’s taken me a long time to realize that it wasn’t all about the money for dad. I think that, even though he got paid, it was more about being able to help others and bail them out of a tough situation (deep snow with only a shovel to move it) that drove him.
Dad led by example, and the thought of him jumped into my head at 7 a.m. today. As I was running my snowblower, clearing the driveways for my neighbors, I remembered dad in that tractor. Perhaps that’s why I felt such joy when I looked at the “you’ve got to be kidding me” expressions of the people who didn’t have to shovel 16 inches of snow by hand. He died 11 years ago Friday…February 4th, 2000. Even though he’s no longer here, his example will live forever in my memory. Thank you, dad, for all you did for me and others. I’ll always love you.