Snow! Snow! Snow!

By now most of the country has had snow hit the ground, trees, or roof tops. It doesn't seem as if anyone has been spared (except Hawaii). I am happy that in the southern suburbs of Chicago, the snow came in under 12 inches.


It took me three outings and most of the day to clear the driveway. Truthfully, a three foot swath was not (and will not) be shoveled. I was lucky, a neighbor with a snow plow cleared several inches away, so I did not have to shovel the entire nine plus inches of fresh powder. But, what I had was enough.


For those of you who don't know, I am new to home ownership, however, I'm not new to snow. I grew up in Chicago and went through the big snow of 1979. I shoveled the side walk with abandon and with the promise of hot chocolate and a couple of extra dollars when I finished, I was happy. Now, I live in the suburbs of Chicago. The driveway often seems too long when it has to be shoveled or plowed when the snow falls.

This was a struggle last year. I am a single woman, surrounded by families. I have learned several things in this year of home ownership. First, it is the men who do the majority of yard work. Secondly, I learned that I was itimidated. I fantasized about having a man I could turn to and say, "Honey, why don't you ask John what fertilizers he uses on his lawn." But, that was not going to happen. During, the year I would break out in a sweat, if I had to do anything outside. Cut down plants, rake the yard, dig mushrooms/toadstools out of the yard, pick up the daily paper. Why? I would be the single woman who just couldn't hack it. I feared being the neighbor who's lawn, house, or activities, just didn't live up to the rest of the neighborhood. I saw the men with their very manly machines, seemingly in control of everything that they did.


A year can make a difference and being adopted by the 80 year-old widower next door can help a lot. He's the one who told me that the house will shift twice a year; he mulched my leaves when I was at work and he told me the best way to clean leaves out of the gutters (get on top of the roof ). This winter, I was less intimidated and kept my driveway almost as clean as the guys (with help from the neighbor with the plow). I would get out out and shovel and not worry about what anyone thought of me. How did that happen...I don't know. Perhaps, I was much more comfortable in my own skin and therefore I was more comfortable letting others see it also. Or, perhaps, I was comforted by the many stories involving men falling off their roofs or getting fingers caught in snowblowers or lawmowers. Or, perhaps, I was no longer the new kid on the block. Now, as I work out outside, I am more confident. The guys on the block are a treasure trove of information. And each time I beat the guys and am working in the yard before them, I feel even better.