So, my snow shovel was stolen from my front porch the day after the blizzard.
Snow equipment became the bikes and lawn mowers of the winter.
My bad, I left it out there, thinking that it would be safe on my front porch in broad daylight.
My wife and I had spent a couple of snow shoveling sessions with neighbors, digging one another out. So I guess I had this spirit of “silver lining” going for me.
After we realized we were shovel less, I started getting phone calls from friends. Most wanted to share stories they had heard or witnessed in the community during the blizzard. There were so many really nice acts of kindness going on all around us.
Indeed, the Chesed Fund, Hatzalah, Shomrim, CERT, Chaverim and just neighbors with neighbors. People were digging one another out, clearing paths, breaking through with four-wheel drive vehicles, transporting.
Friends of mine with names like Danny, Ronnie, Chaim, Frank, Brian and so many others were out there working in that cold, horrible weather to make life a little easier.
When this is all over, and the snow melts away, we’re going to all remember the blizzard of 2010.
I’m not going to remember that someone stole my snow shovel. My friend, Andy, loaned me one the next day. Instead, I’m going to remember the acts of kindness I learned of. They were all much deeper than the snow.
My only practical request is that we continue on with patience. In a couple of weeks, the intersection of Cross Country and Strathmore near Western Run is going to be clogged by neighbors delivering Purim mishloach manot to one another. Even when there is no snow, the intersection gets tricky. Assuming there are remnants of snow, please plan to be patient and respectful of one another’s safety there.
Oh, and if I could tell the person who stole the snow shovel anything, it would just be keep it, and help somebody with it.