"Thank you so much," I said, my voice muffled by my scarf, winter hat, and hood. "I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this."
"No problem. It feels good to help someone else," my neighbor responded.
On Thursday we were pounded with over six inches of heavy snow. As a single mom on a night when my kids were at their dad's house, the amount of snow that I needed to clear away was daunting. I had been working on shoveling my driveway. At that point I had been shoveling and sweating for forty-five minutes, and I was only about 1/3 of the way finished.
"Thank you. Thank you. You will save me so much time," I said.
He smiled, "I have had help from others at times, too. I am more than happy to help you out." He turned towards his blower.
"Wait..."
My neighbor faced me.
"I must confess. I feel a little guilty. I have a snow blower that a friend gave me last winter. It's been sitting in my garage because I am not sure how to use it. I am intimidated by mixing the oil and how to get it started. My friend mentioned that I can get a special kind of extension chord to make it easier to use. Seriously, I meant to try to get it figured out soon, but it just hasn't happened yet. I don't want to take advantage of your kindness." I looked sheepishly at my neighbor that I had only met once before.
My neighbor smiled again. "Ah! I can help you figure that out some time. Just ask."
"That would be great."
He continued with his snow blower and finished clearing out my snowy sidewalks and apron. His thick mitten waved as he ventured back home.
My heart warmed with gratitude. Once again, I am humbled at how kind and generous people can be.
This happened to me too this week! I was trying to shovel out my car with a foot and a half of snow all around. A neighbor with a truck and plow helped. I couldn't stop saying THANK YOU! We need to recognize the kindness all around. If only politicians...
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that. I think that small acts of kindness like that provide so much hope.
DeleteI love this story. I miss having neighbors like that. You will figure out the snowblower. I’m sure there’s a YouTube video explaining the process if you want to try that first.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Glenda! I appreciate it.
DeleteI am sure that there are many YouTube videos out there, too... Sometimes my problem is just being motivated enough to figure out something for myself!
Beautiful, beautiful. I'm so happy you were helped out. It hasn't snowed in the last few years, but every time we got dumped on my husband was visiting our kids...I was still working. I was afraid of the snow blower, the last year we lived there it happened again and my neighbor came over... just ask if you need help, Nancy... it is hard for me to ask for help. I'm so grateful in retirement Dave looks to help, he doesn't wait to be asked. I love your writing. I am praying for you, Glenda. XO
ReplyDeleteThank you! I wish that I wasn't afraid of using the snow blower! I need to figure this one out.
DeleteThank you for the writing compliment.
What a fantastic story! My sister has a neighbor who brings over his tractor to help her clear the driveway when it snows. This is such a great act of kindness!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am glad to know that there are other neighbors who are helpful, too.
DeleteCheers to all helpful neighbours! Welcome back to blogging!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It felt good to write again.
DeleteSo wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love this story. Neighborly kindness and an offer for future help figuring out your snowblower. Makes me glad we don't have snow like you're describing, but we may get some snow this upcoming week.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was great packing snow for making snowpeople and snow forts, but it's a lot of work to take care of!
DeleteI love the way you ended this piece -"Once again, I am humbled at how kind and generous people can be." I have felt this way throughout COVID, and it this kindness that keeps me going
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I find that the last line can be difficult for me, so I appreciate your compliment. Kindness keeps me going, too.
DeleteThat is spectacular! Thank you for sharing this sweet story of kindness, honesty, community. Makes me smile and cry a bit -- at its loveliness! :D
ReplyDelete