I loved watching Barney & Friends when my nephews and nieces were growing up. I loved their songs. Those songs promoted good healthy feelings towards one another.
Yesterday, Chicago had a really nice snow storm. All day long the flakes came floating down. They were big, fluffy and my idea of snow. The office shut down early but I still pulled a normal 13 hour work day. Traffic was slow as people were cautious and hence travel time frames were longer, as a result.
When I got home last night at 9:00, I saw four homes that needed their sidewalks and walk paths shoveled. These are the "senior saints" on the street. I was tired, but I worried more about people falling down. So, began my shoveling. I do not use a snow blower as I consider it the cowards way in Chicago. In Michigan, that's a different story as there are driveways that are wide and long plus sidewalks. So, you wouldn't see a shovel in my hand up there.
My point being. I was exhausted when I got home yet the energies rekindled when I thought about the Grandmas trying to get down the steps or if they could even pick up a shovel. Always a driving force deep within my heart.
So, I shoveled until 1:00 in the morning and pushed the exhaustion out of my head. What I didn't know was that one of the ladies whose sidewalk, steps and porch that I shoveled, fell down while walking her dog on the sidewalk earlier in the evening in the neighborhood and broke her collarbone last night. She has a roommate but yet, this roommate, who is much younger, and yet, she didn't do anything to help this woman out, even this morning. I found out about it because I called to check, as I always do during snow storms, on the seniors to make sure they have milk, their crackers, and their meds!
Even though we are at a busy time during this holiday season, I want to ask you a favor. Think about those in your neighborhood who might not have a place to go for dinner during this Christmas. It doesn't have to be on Christmas but is there someone that you might not have thought about who doesn't have family, like this woman who broke her collarbone last night. A kind thought of shoveling their sidewalk, their steps, bringing them a warm plate of warm cookies, or a warm meal would brighten their day.
I got up early this morning and re-shoveled again. When I found out about this ladies accident, I called out the troops. One of the neighbors is bringing her something warm for lunch today. Another one will be walking her "energetic" dog for her. Another will be supervising the meds and immediate care while I am at work.
Opa, my grandfather, taught me one of the most valuable lessons in life. He used to make time for everybody and made them feel important, just like Barney & Friends, even if he didn't have the time. He made them feel special. So before you go honkin your horn at some turkey not doing something that you want them to do, I ask that you just rethink.
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