Tuesday, February 05, 2008

A Good Neighbor - Worth His Weight in Expensive Beer

Yet again we've been dumped on with more snow. One of our cars has told us by screeching its pretty little wheels that it will not leave our driveway in its current, unplowed condition.

If we had a regular driveway, my guess is a quick forty minutes with a snow shovel and we'd settle the score with our reluctant car.

But our driveway is U-shaped, and then takes a long L to the back of the house. It would take a while to shovel it all by hand. Like sixty-four years.

So imagine my delight, my sublime happiness when I heard a buzzing noise this afternoon.

I walked out to the back gate to investigate (yes, we still have some straggling wreaths around the property). Much to my surprise was a jolly not-so-old man on his John Deere! My awesome friend, Pam, married a swell guy with yard equipment.




And he came over all on his own to plow our driveway.



No one asked him.
As you can see, Jacob took an interest right away. I was standing in the 25 degree weather, Jack on my hip, shooting pictures, and screaming, "Whooo Hooo, Steve! Yay!" Like the laid-back, understated gal that I am.After a bit when I was done embarassing myself taking pictures, I called Pam and gushed my thanks. Now we can drive into town tomorrow. Things like this make my day.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember feeling that way when we got so much snow and I was pregnant and Zach was a toddler and J just couldn't shovel our whole driveway on his own and the snowblower from across the street suddenly arrived. Good friends!

I do miss snow.

Emily

Nancy said...

My driveway is small, but my neighbor's heart is big.

He's been out there after every snow dump with the snow thrower (I can't call it a blower, obvious reasons)before I leave for work.

He clears mine and 2 other single womens driveways ... wait, I see a pattern here.

Actually, he's just one of those "good guys" ... like you neighbor.

Jessica @ Little Nesting Doll said...

YAY Steve! I know that feeling--how great! We have a shared driveway now, 5 houses off the one main drive, but there is a joint snow-blower to clear the main area at one of the neighbor's houses. Unfortunately, last snowfall was not deep enough for the snow-blower to work, so Conrad and one of the neighbor husbands hand-shoveled the whole thing and all 5 mini-driveways. Good times.

Jan said...

Whooo Hooo, is right.

Anonymous said...

Steve needs some brownies. Or cookies. Let me know if you want a recipe. ; )

Anonymous said...

Dear lord that's a lot of snow.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I've never had to have my driveway plowed due to snow, but a good neighbor once use used his water truck to save my house, and a few others, during a firestorm. We definitely bought him a beer!

Magpie said...

That's a good neighbor. Buy him a bottle of hooch.

Life As I Know It said...

Our neighbor (and we just moved here in August!) snowblowed our driveway for us a few months ago. Then we promptly went out and bought a snow blower. And a case of beer for our neighbor.
Yay for neighborly love!

Beck said...

God bless him, that's kind.
The local snowplows use our driveways to turn around in, which makes us VERY happy.

Mary Alice said...

Jenn - I just sent you an e-mail. Check your yahoo account.

Liv said...

wow. that was so nice. sometimes people just overwhelm!

Jennifer said...

Three cheers for Steve! There is nothing like a neighbor shoveling your snow. And you're right -- nothing says thank you like a nice six pack.

Audubon Ron said...

Things like a John Deere make my day. I'm sure it was your friend's pleasure. Yeah buddy!

Girlplustwo said...

i so love kick ass neighbors!

BetteJo said...

It's a guy thing - he wasn't doing you a favor as much as he was enjoying himself! A lot of guys seem to think things like that are fun.

Beth Cotell said...

Good neighbors are priceless!

Jennifer said...

Like a good neighbor, John Deere is there!

That sounds like my FIL, it snowed in St. Louis last week. He spent the entire day on his tractor with a snow blade shoveling the neighborhood's driveways.

flutter said...

what a cool guy!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I love random acts of kindness like that. Wow, what a relief for you!

Right now we're in a blizzard warning with 20 inches of snow expected so I'm wishing that guy would come visit us. :)

Mrs. G. said...

I never tire of hearing stories like this. Never. What a guy!

Fantastagirl said...

Neighbors are wonderful things!

Unknown said...

Now THAT is awesome! Our driveway isn't so big, but it seems to get bigger when I begin shoveling it. Our neighbor came over last week and shoveled some of it for us -- unasked!

Mary Beth said...

My parents had a cheaper plan than getting a John Deere - have enough kids, they do it for free:)

Now, I live on the river and within a mile of the ocean in NJ and (knock wood) haven't had to shovel yet this year! We get rain, glorious rain instead of snow. I will now have completely jinxed the rest of the winter - expect to see that NJ got feet of snow dumped on it tomorrow;)

dkuroiwa said...

Holy Moly, Batman!!! That was a lot of snow!! And how lucky for you to be in a neighborhood with Steve and his "snow mover"...yes, the man deserves brownies...or a cake...or something else really big and sweet!!

Fairly Odd Mother said...

I'm telling you---I wouldn't leave this house even if a nicer, newer one became available down the street b/c of our fabulous neighbors.

Your neighbor sounds like a peach.

Kat said...

Wow! That is a fabulous neighbor! Too bad you can't send him over my way. We got dumped on again too.

Kristi B said...

He is awesome! our neighbor too came over with his snowblower and did not only our sidewalk, like he usually does, but also our driveway. Whoo hoo for good neighbors with power equipment!

Emily said...

Random Acts of Kindness.

Love it.

I think I shall venture off in our bit of snow and keep my eyes open for ways to be kind.

I have noticed, lately, that it's easier to shower elaborate kindness on perfect strangers than on people I know...making your friend's kindness all that much more impressive.

insanemommy said...

We have a gate too. But it's to keep the crazies in!!! Beutiful pictures.

I figured out why my blog was loading so slowly. Don't be a stranger..

Mayberry said...

That is fabulous. LURV good neighbors like that.

Also, if I see one more flake of snow I am going to LOSE IT.

Family Adventure said...

With serious snow removal equipment like that, he must be the hero of every boy on the street.

What a kind soul.

Heidi

BOSSY said...

Bossy's husband would SO have Plow Envy.

Lori said...

What a great neighbor! We actually got snow Monday, but it only lasted for a few hours.

Keeping It Real said...

I don't DO snow, but if I did, I'd be mighty proud to have a neighbor like that.