I gave a talk to myself today.
We have so much to do. Digging paths for the dogs. Digging out the feeders. Clearing a path to the water bucket. Digging out the cards. Digging out the porch. Digging out the garbage cans. Digging out the barn. Clearing off the roof.
I really hate watching Maria shovel all this snow; I am trying to help her. I’m focusing on the porch and the cars. That will take all day.
I spent a couple of hours shoveling, and I came in, I was feeling weak and drained. I think I overdid it a bit.
This is the most snow we’ve faced since I’ve had heart disease, and I’m just a month from an intense heart catheterization, three days from another surgery.
If I had trouble right now, nobody could get to me. And Maria came up to me, tears in her eyes, saying it would destroy everything if I did too much and got sick.
I know the truth in that I heard her message. We agreed that I would focus on the cars; it will take a few hours on an off to get to them, another hour to clean them off.
I’ll move slowly and deliberately, and if she tells me to stop, I will stop. If I feel weak, short of breath, or otherwise comfortable, I’ll stop also.
I have myself a little talk. Maria is correct, I told me. I’m doing very well heart-wise and working hard to be healthy.
And I cherish my life and want to keep it. I know I can be stubborn; I know I can change. I’m not taking the risk of tossing our love away for a few feet of snow.
Shoveling this heavy snow for hours could be dangerous for me.
So I need to be an adult, vigilant, mature and to keep my perspective. Shoveling all the snow out today is not necessary.
This is not the time to be a cowboy, not in this storm.
Vince Vecchione, our neighbor, friend, and plow person, will come by when he can today and plow the driveway. That will give me access to the cars and the garbage cans. The dogs can do their stuff in the driveway. We can work from there.
Maria is strong and a ferocious shoveler. She loves making paths. I need to embrace that good fortune and flow with the stream of life. Hard for me, but doable.
Thank you for listening to Maria. Please keep listening to her. It’s true, your loss to her, I don’t even want to think about it. Just listen to Maria.
Jon, I am your contemporary , living on the coast of Maine and have shoveled my share of snow. Last year I was introduced to a wonderful product, a battery operated snowblower! It is light enough for me to lift, uses two rechargeable batteries and can handle deep snow. There are many to choose from, but a powerful unit can be purchased for around $500. – $600. You may have the added benefit of being able to recharge the batteries using solar power.
We don’t want a snow blower…but thanks.
I have to apologize Marcia..I just ordered a battery-powered snowblower…it will help out a bit.
Jon, where did you get the snow blower you ordered?
Amazon
LISTEN TO MARIA, JON
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN
Get on the phone and have someone snowblow the paths you need that are too much for Maria to shovel
We did it ourselves, and we have a plow guy…Its not a huge big deal, I just have to be cautious and deliberate..not the worst way to go..
I am surprised that you have not gotten a snow blower.
Dont be..I don’t want one…
Jon & Maria have you considered an electric snow blower? Push button start, rechargeable batteries, no gas, no maintenance, fairly light weight. EGO is a good one to check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZhmJqjgo6M
Please be careful and do not overdo it with the shoveling…and maybe think about the electric snow blower.
Don’t want a snow blower…we can do it..
sharon, apologies to you, you inspired me to get a battery-powered snowblower I just ordered one.
Just ordered one, Sharon, thanks for the jog..I thought Maria would object, but the electric part won her over..
I’m so glad you are being thoughtful about this! Shoveling is hard on the heart. Take care.
15 foot snow banks were the norm up here in northern N.Y. I shovel a little at a time all the time to try and keep a path to the car. Biggest problem here is shoveling plow snow. I hate it. Plows shouldn’t fill in older peoples driveways. It’s like shoveling concrete. I hate the noise of snowblowers, but worse, are leaf blowers. I wish leaf blowers would be banned. Sometimes at night I enjoy shoveling in the dark and quiet of that time of day. Good luck with your surgery and with staying ahead of the snow
I was just going to suggest a snow blower–but am merely happy to join my voice with the others. I am relieved that you are going to buy one. Maybe the Army of Good could help you out on this. I know you won’t ask, but I’ll bet others will be glad to contribute. Just a thought and a hint! hint!
Thanks Molly, I don’t need any help, I can afford it..Supporting my personal needs is not the function of the army of good, that’s my business..