Article Contributed on: 12/21/2006 6:26:43 PM
The "blizzard of 2006" was a real tough one to handle. I was on my way home from downtown Denver, and after 2 1/2 hours, I get to within 4 blocks, and wouldn't you know it, I get stuck! I rock and rock, spin the tires, burning rubber, and get about 1 foot.
I give in to mother nature, and begin the journey home. It takes me about 30 minutes to walk the trek, and as I approach my front yard, I see my wife's car stuck up on our neighbor's front lawn. At first I think, now what, but then I think, I am glad she got within a block from home, and safely. I go inside warm up, contemplate going out to try to clear a path, but I say, "wait until the morning."
I get up around 4AM shovel a small path for my dogs to do their business, and settle back inside till noon.
I venture out to survey the damage, find nothing but White Mountains 3 to 4 feet high, and start shoveling. I try to get a path to my first stuck car, get 30 feet, and say, "forget about it!"
I walk over to the car, shovel off the snow start it up and sit there, going nowhere. After about 10 minutes, with no luck I put my shovel on my shoulder, and start the walk to the other car, 4 blocks away. I again start the cleaning ritual, get in side start it up and again, go nowhere. This time I work only about 5 minutes, stop, and assured that it is not in the street to get hit, I start to walk back home. As I turn around, and start walking, a group of kids are walking down the middle of the street, laughing and talking, and one of them says, "Can we help you get out?"
At first I thought, no way will these kids really be of any help, but then the 6 of them proceed to use the 2 shovels they have, they grab my shovel and start the daunting task of moving mountains of heavy snow, to get me back home.
These kids are something! Most of them are young ladies, and they are gong to town, working to clear a path to get me out, giving commands and doing the hard work! Wow! These kids
are really something. They are helping, very polite, and getting the job done. It was great to talk to them, and watch them work as a team. I was so pleased and excited to see just how people still help other people, and to see the younger Gen X and Y'ers, pitching in, with no second thoughts was something to behold. It was GREAT!
These kids not only get my one car out, they helped to get the other one free, worked about 3 hours in the process, were cold and wet, and asked for nothing. I offered to get them something hot to drink, they said no thank you, and finished the job. What a great bunch of young people, and what a great bunch of neighbors.
I can't wait to talk to them again!
Thanks to
Ashlie,
Katie,
Chelsea,
Samantha,
Michelle,
Cody, and "
The Boil",
Ryan for all your help.
Rod Fiore
PS, I am sorry if I missed anyone.