When six shovels are better than one
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2022 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
I’m usually happy when it’s quitting time, but I was dreading the ride home on this particular day. We’d had more snow, and now it was blowing. I knew my usual half-hour commute would be double that, at least.
Not even one block from work, I saw a car spinning its tires in a driveway, stuck. I felt bad for the lady, but then a man in a truck pulled over to help. He didn’t have to, as she was not blocking any traffic and it perked up my mood to see somebody take time to help someone else.
Redwood Avenue was slowed to a crawl in spots, but this gave me the opportunity to watch the firefighters at the Redwood fire station shovel their driveway. This normally wouldn’t be noteworthy, but all six of them lined up tight together then shovelled as one unit. I’m sure it was all in fun, and it gave me a chuckle.
Further along, I turned from Redwood onto Henderson Highway and was greeted by the most beautiful sun dog. By now I was starting to feel less frustrated and more relaxed.
If you don’t have a companion to talk to, it’s important to have good music to help pass the time. I’m a station flipper, always seeking out the best tune for my mood. The selection that day ranged from the peppy, That’s What I Want by Lil Nas X, to Chris Isaak’s more soulful Wicked Game. I admit I’m one of those people you see singing unabashedly to themselves in the car.
A slow drive also allows for contemplation. I spent some time coming up with New Year’s resolutions and deciding what to have for dinner. Then my thoughts wandered to the silly, as I passed Uncle Weiner’s Wholesale store on Nairn Avenue. I wondered why the mascot on their sign is a pickle when a hotdog seems more suitable.
Sometimes reading the business signs along the way can alert you to sales or tempt you to get takeout for dinner, but the OK Tire Auto Service sign provided some corny comic relief: “When one door closes, another one opens. Other than that, it’s a pretty good car”.
Ha!
Finally, I pulled up to my house to see one of my awesome neighbours had cleared my driveway with their snow blower. It was a great end to my trek home.
Overall, the drive wasn’t so bad. I could have grumbled about having to scrape frost off the windows, or the lack of sand at some intersections but on that day I chose to focus on the more pleasant aspects, which improved my mood.
Suzanne Hunter is a community correspondent for Transcona.