I’ll tell you a little secret. I like shoveling snow.
Not that I hope for snow so that I can go shovel. I don’t like it that much. But I do like to shovel it. There is a certain sense of accomplishment as you watch an area transform from frozen wasteland to something more recognizable. Like a walkway. Or a driveway.
It was interesting to note that there were lots of instructions popping up on social media this week on how to properly shovel snow. Take small shovels full. Do it slowly. Allow time to rest. There were also stories about the increase in people showing up at hospitals with snow shoveling related problems. Everything from pulled muscles to heart attacks.
As I said, I like to shovel snow. I have also been one of those people. One of those who had a heart attack while moving snow.
Now the strange part. It did not happen while I was shoveling. I was also not standing back admiring the nice straight lines of my shovel work or the fact that I had not piled everything at the end of the driveway so it blocked my vision. Actually, I was trying to start the snow blower.
I should have stuck to the shovel. Honestly, we rarely get enough snow to make me want to use the snow blower. I drag it out every now and then, just to start it up and make sure it runs. On the occasion, I had cleared the driveway and was about to go across the street to help a neighbour. I had shut the machine off, so I grabbed the cord to give it a pull and start it up again.
Apparently my body had a problem with my generous nature that day. I never got the snow blower started again. I never did get the neighbours walkway cleared (sorry). Instead, I went to the hospital. A couple days and a couple shiny new stents later, they kicked me out.
Now, I get yelled at when I try to shovel snow. Family members seem to not want me to do that, but I still enjoy it.
So I’ll follow the rules. Smaller shovels full, go slow, rest often. Okay. I probably won’t change much. I still like to shovel.
But I haven’t touched the snow blower in almost two years. The thing tried to kill me.
