Shovel Cash

It snowed non-stop today. In fact, it is supposed to continue until tomorrow night at 7 p.m. This could end up being quite an accumulation. And since the plow guy won't call me back, I had to break out the new shovel this afternoon.

As I was working away, a kind neighbor came over to help for a little while. I thanked him greatly and was reminded of my blessed youth. In the spring, summer, and even the fall, it was easy to guess what me and my buddy, Timmy, would be doing. You could find us swimming, shooting hoops, playing pickle, football, or pitch and catch. The list could go on and on, but we were outside, playing some sort fun, active game.

When winter rolled around, however, we couldn't necessarily play the same type of games. We had to get creative. Sure, we built snowmen and snow forts, and went sledding and had snowball fights, but one day, we came up with a brilliant idea. Actually, a money-making idea. 

Without anyones knowledge, Tim and I lugged our parents' shovels over to our neighbor's driveway and began shoveling away. Our little bodies managed to clear Walter's driveway. After we did, the money-making part of the plan kicked in. With the red cheeks on our cute little faces, we rang Walter's doorbell and informed him that we had shoveled his driveway. Then, we simply asked, "What are you going to pay us?" 

As I look back, it was quite an assumption that Walter would pay us. Of course he did. And of course, once my mother got word of this, we had to return the money and apologize. Even though I lost the money, however much it was, I don't remember, I can't help but think about it and smile. Especially after I finished shoveling my driveway and curled up with a blanket in the glow of my beautiful (and now decorated) Christmas tree.