Hi, James!  Recently you wrote in a message to Daryl Stout:

JB>  Now, to suit up and clear even *more* snow from the walks...
JB>  I just wonder how many of my neighbours even OWN shovels.


         We do... and so do our neighbours on both sides.  Not everybody
does, though.  Last Dec. 17th I was amused to see a guy from a local shop
attempting to clear snow off the sidewalk with a long-handled squeegee
obviously designed for washing windows.  And we have a photo taken several
years ago of two girls from Nora's school skiing up the middle of the
street with their Mom when many of the sidewalks were impassible.  It's not
always quite so amusing when folks like you & me take responsibility
for certain things which younger and/or more able-bodied folks apparently
can't be bothered with.  But I guess there's some gallows humour here too. 
What made the first incident amusing for me was that Nora had to go
somewhere... and not knowing what to expect along the way I had decided to
go with her & was carrying our snow shovel on my shoulder, while he had
the befuddled look of a recent immigrant from southeast Asia who had never
seen snow before & was led to believe we don't get it in this area. 
What made the second incident amusing was that when Nora was a toddler I'd
also given up on the sidewalks & pushed a stroller along the same
route... [wry grin].

         Another factor is the indomitability of the human spirit.  In both
of the above situations I saw people making creative use of what was
available to them at the time.  As for your own neighbours... there are
various reasons why some folks may not be making a noticeable contribution
toward the common good. Although it doesn't seem quite fair that you should
have to take up the slack, it's probably better for your mental health to
do what you can to help without making negative judgements regarding these
people.  Besides... if you want the job done you may have to do it
yourself.  And there may be an added bonus too, as long as you're doing
what you think is right without regard for what others may think of it. 
Later, when you tackle your neighbours on the issue of young children
riding tricycles in the alley, they may be more receptive to what you have
to say because you shovelled their sidewalk for them last winter....  ;-)

         BTW... we've had about 28" of snow in the past two weeks. 
Today it's raining, but more snow is expected Monday.  Still snowing in
Calgary...??  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+