Yesterday was a long one for a lot of people across the country. A massive storm filled driveways with several feet of snow and covered city streets with inch-thick sheets of ice. A good day to stay home with the kids and relax until the plows came by. It was also a good opportunity to truly appreciate what a “neighborhood” is all about.
Everyone started rolling out of their houses on our cul-de-sac at about
7 a.m. As garage doors opened, 3-foot drifts that were against them remained standing, molded flat even when the support of the doors was gone. Those who had snowblowers had to shovel just to clear enough space to get them out. Only then could the work of moving the newly dumped precipitation begin. Everyone on the street got to work, either shoveling or blowing snow. No one would be able to get down the street, however, because city plows wouldn’t arrive until later in the day.
As the day progressed, neighbors started “paying it forward”. When one person helped another and reduced their work load, instead of going inside they moved to another neighbor’s driveway to help. This went on all day. Then, just when we all thought we were done, the city crews came and pushed a 3-foot high hill of snow at the base of everyone’s driveway when they cleared the street at about 4:30 p.m., 30 minutes before those with all-wheel-drive vehicles who went to work would be arriving home. This is when it got interesting…
Those of us with snowblowers cleared our own driveways again…then, without a second thought, moved to the neighbors’ homes and cleared theirs, too. Within 45 minutes, everyone had a clear path to their garage. I feel very fortunate to be a part of a community that steps up and takes on adversity, looking out after each other, and pays it forward without ever expecting anything in return. Isn’t that what a neighborhood should be?