Monday, January 21, 2019

Neighborly Down Through The Years.


 Over the weekend we plunged into the -30 Celsius range, in Deedles (or Fahrenheit) that is about -23 F, at that temperature I can think of another word that begins with "f". The unusual part was we got walloped with a lot of snow and high winds that caused huge drifts. Mother nature was not sticking to her deal she made for winter. Usually the deep frigid weather is offset by clear sunny days. The air on freezing cold days is dry as a desert so it doesn't snow. That is until this past weekend.

 I ran into trouble because my old tractor has a senior citizens clause in her contract, she doesn't work below -16 Celsius. I warmed her, I begged, I pleaded but no, she refused to wake from her sleep. With temperatures dropping and still more freezing days to come, I had to call in the big boys.

 My neighbor has an excavating company, they also do some snow plowing. I called and even though they were swamped, he came in about half an hour to dig me out. With the right machine he was done in about thirty minutes. I appreciated him coming and paid him for the job. While standing there talking to him I realized something that speaks about living in a community where families go back generations. He is younger than me and I told him a story about when I was a child my father became ill with pneumonia, like this past weekend there was a huge snow storm and we were snowed in. One of the neighbors had a snow plow and came to open up our road, I remember it being such a relief for mom. That man who helped us out, would be this man's grandfather.

 It's part of country life, that circle of people who are around and are reliable, it helps people get by. I often think that is what is missing in the city, a community, it's how individuals fall through the cracks or feel alone while surrounded by people at the same time. It's sad to me that most people don't know what it's like to have good neighbours for generations.

20 comments:

Michael said...

Your town sounds so much like mine growing up. Sometimes I regret moving away, but there was nothing there for jobs.

Richard said...

I think you're right about the circle of people in country towns. Conversely, they know all your business, they know who has been at your house and who you socialize with. Some good and some bad.

Old Lurker said...

I should get a similar senior citizen's clause. -16C is plenty cold enough for me, thanks.

If you think Mother Winter ever lives up to her side of the deal you are more gullible than I thought.

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

So nice to have neighbors like that. Seriously. That's almost but lost in some places.
Hope you're keeping warm. We got like a foot of snow and I just can't. It'll be -12 F tomorrow and I don't wanna hear about it.

xoxo

peppylady (Dora) said...

Now that cold and I stop in from "She who seeks" and if you have time stop in for a cup of coffee.

Mistress Maddie said...

urinal. Cold here too, but no snow. What you need now is a naked guy to lay on top of you to keep warm.


I meant you need a hot cup of chocolate.

Bob said...

I could not do that cold.
It's 21 here this morning, but that's above zero so, yeah, below? Oh hell no.
Yur neighbor is right neighborly. That;s a nice, and all too often, a rare, thing.

Deedles said...

Steven, have I told you lately that I love the way you write/express yourself? Whether it's serious, semi-serious or downright hilarious you rock Bud!
Now, I hafta tell ya, I so identify with your tractor! I can't even imagine living anywhere that can get into minus degree temperatures!
I think I'll use Deedles instead of Farenhi...Farin... uh, F. It works for me on a personal level. Example:
Balder Half: Are you in the mood?
Me: Not really. I'm at 0D.
Balder Half: 0F!

@Maddie- In my house naked guy and hot chocolate are the same thing (add a touch of cinnamon, he has red hair).

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Michael, it's the same here unfortunately. I spend three hours a day driving to and from work, it's one of the reasons I have to move.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Richard, I don't mind the people who are part of my life knowing stuff about me, it's the people who are not part of my life that tick me off when they seem to know a lot more about me than they should.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Debra, yes and we are even sadder poor bastards because for every degree it warms up, get another cm of snow or freezing rain... aaaah!

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Old Lurker, no you're not like an old tractor, you're more like an old horse and when it's too old we take it out behind the barn and.... put it out to pasture.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Sixpence, we are getting snow and freezing rain.... grumble grumble grumble... stupid snow and freezing rain. :(

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Hello Dora, welcome to my humble blog. I will visit you! :)

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Maddie, couldn't I have both. :(

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Bob, 21 huh? Okay I'm officially jealous!

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Deedles, awww you're so sweet. Then of course you switch to that sense of humor (with one u) of yours like no other and I'm snickering and giggling at my phone. :)

Old Lurker said...

Off to the glue factory for me, I guess.

I guess I should not reveal that I know more about you than I should, huh?

P.S. The google CAPTCHA wanted me to identify "Tractors". Who do they think I am?

Sooo-this-is-me said...

They usually just ask me to identify some group of numbers and letters that I can't read like all the spam bots.

What have you been lurking into Mr Lurker?

Old Lurker said...

Nope! Can't say.

Learning to identify groups of numbers and letters is an important life skill. This is called "literacy".