This past Saturday we received about 16" of snow here at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake Virginia. Truly the most I have seen since moving here in 2003! My Husband and I spent the better part of the day shoveling our driveway and sidewalks. (we were sharing our one shovel)
It reminded me of when I was a kid and we would get a big snow storm back home in NY. My Brothers and I loved that we had a day off of school and more importantly the opportunity to earn some "real cash"! We were up before day light, snow suits on, shovels in hand and off to see who would end the day with the most money. Not many folks in our old neighborhood could afford a snow blower, let alone hire a plow, but most could afford a "Ledoux" kid for any where from $2.00-$10.00 depending on the size of the driveway and depending how nice the customer was. I thought of sweet old Mrs. Lafarro who usually paid no more than $2.00 for her driveway (which was probably $2.00 off of her food budget for the week) but we didn't mind, she always sent us away with not only our $2.00 but a bag of the best sugar cookies I have ever tasted!
At the end of our "work day" we would go to the Junior High School around the corner because it had the best "sledding hills around! Flying down that hill on top of a garbage can lid or whatever else would work was so much fun I don't even remember minding having to walk back up the hills to start again.
Then it was a trip to the deli where I would buy a salami sandwich on a hard roll with lettuce, tomatoes & mayo! That deli made the best sandwiches ever!! If time allowed the next day, I could take the bus to the mall and buy that pair of Jordache jeans that my parents couldn't afford to buy me and if I was feeling especially generous, I would buy my Mom a box of her favorite chocolates, Whitman Samplers.
The sweet Mrs. Lafaro from my old neighborhood is probably baking cookies in heaven right now. I have no desire (nor the body) for Jordache jeans any more and I doubt the old deli on the corner is still run by the same family who made those HUGE and delicious salami sandwiches.
I just had a full day enjoying time with my Husband, not worrying about selling houses or lots, not thinking about the bills on my desk or cleaning my house, or even the Christmas shopping that still needs to be done. Instead I had a great day shoveling snow and remembering many snowy days of yesteryear.
I wonder where are the kids in the neighborhoods now? Don't they want to make money? Or is it they just don't "need" to make money? There were times growing up where I wished my family had it easier and we didn't have to work so hard for "everything" we had, but now I realize I wouldn't trade a second of those days and I'm grateful I learned to work hard and yes even sometimes work for "cookies", it was so worth it. And as long as I am able, I will enjoy our infrequent snow days and will do my best not to complain about my ache back for two days!!
Merry Christmas and wishing everyone a "snow day" to enjoy!!
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