17 December

Mission Accomplished!

by Jon Katz

I admit to being proud of myself. My goal today was to get my completely buried car dugout. This took four separate excursions.

Having heart disease complicates things; Maria urged me to take it slowly and carefully. My doctors say go as far as I think I can. People online say, be careful.

I listen to all this caution, and I was cautious. At first, I never thought I’d be able to do this one day. Honestly, I’ve never seen so much snow in a single storm in my time upstate or anywhere else.

We will be digging out for days. Maria did more than I did, and she enjoys it, although she is tired tonight. So am I. Several people messaged me and urged me to get one of those new battery-powered snow blowers.

I told them we didn’t want one, and Maria has always objected to them, especially the gas-powered ones. She doesn’t object anymore, and neither do I.

I went online and bought one. We will still do most of our own digging, but I can’t be as involved as I have been in the past, and I owe it to Maria to make it easier for her if I can’t help myself.

It’s coming Monday, the battery lasts for 40 minutes, and it will make the paths we need to get to the animals a lot easier. It’s coming Monday.

Tomorrow, we’ll take on the digging out of her car together. My Rav 4 started right up, and as I wrote this, Vince Vecchione, our very reliable and resourceful plowman, pulled into the driveway and is clearing it away.

We will have no trouble getting to the hospital on Monday for my surgery. We got three or four feet of snow; we are lucky. Our broken wood stove was repaired on Tuesday, our new gravel for the barn came the same day.

I appreciate all the good wishes. Ultimately, the best way to deal with the heart thing is to work slowly and steadily and stop when it doesn’t feel good. I think that’s honestly the best anyone can do.

I feel good, both in terms of my heart and for accomplishing an important task – digging up my car. Tomorrow I’ll obsess on Maria’s.

8 Comments

  1. I have one of the battery-powered snow blowers, but here in southeastern CT, the snow was just too deep and heavy for it to use today… so clearing will have to be done in chunks, too.The nice thing about the batteries for these is that they charge completely in about 2.5 hours. I’m thinking of getting another battery to have as backup. FYI- I grew up in Salem and I don’t recall it ever snowing that much at one time, either!

  2. I’m very happy you both changed your minds about the snow blowers. They could come in handy if you have an emergency.

  3. yes, everybody who has deep snow and health conditions shud have spare batts for safety, if needed. lol [lots of love] thx

  4. I know you hate warnings on line and I respect that you listen to the experts. Shoveling will pop the good work your surgeons have done for you. Pay attention the word pop. A snow blower is a great solution. I’m not gonna pull out stats or stories. John please stop shoveling. Maria is not the only one with tears in her eyes,

    1. I’m doing fine Rose, nothing has popped over five years of heart disease…my doctors are very happy with what I’m doing..so am I

  5. As a woman who has to handle snow removal, especially when it is of this magnitude, you need a gas powered snow blower. I understand the want to be green (my degree and work is in the environmental field), however, a battery powered one is not going to do the job efficiently when you live in snow country ( I also live in snow country) I have a 25 yr old Husqvarna that has NEVER failed me even when there has been 3′ of snow. It needs to have the power to throw the snow, even if wet and heavy. For the amount of clearing you need to do, the battery won’t last long enough. I spent about 3.5 hrs yesterday (18″+) clearing a driveway, sidewalks and paths for the dogs and to get to the birdfeeders. Check with your local small engine sellers for one, rather than online, may even deliver it! Just a thought from experience. (PS- the snowblower was the best thing I got from my divorce 🙂 )

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