Why is shoveling snow after a snowstorm such a thing? I can see if you own a business, and you don’t want someone falling and breaking their neck outside your store and suing you, but why is everyone so hell bent on shoveling their sidewalks and driveways, sometimes while it’s still snowing?

Seems like a lot of unnecessary work to me.

My method is much easier. First I check the weather report, because in south Jersey you don’t have to wait too long for it to melt or get rained away, like it’s doing now. Then I put on my snow boots and clomp a path to my car, and continue to walk that same path for every trip to my car, until it’s clear. I clear the snow off of my car with a great snow remover, and then I pull out of my driveway a half dozen times to flatten the snow, and pull in and out until there’s a clear path.

Once I have cleared a path out of my driveway, that’s it. I will no longer deal with any snow on my sidewalks or driveway.

Arguments?

I have an elderly parent.

I want to walk to my car to go to work without my feet getting soaked.

Simple courtesy, you dumb bitch.

I happen to like the physical labor.

I don’t want it icing up.

All duly noted. I’m just saying for my purposes, I don’t need a clear driveway and sidewalk, not in this geographical area.

In my generation, we walked around our neighborhoods on snowy days and shoveled driveways and sidewalks for money. Times have changed. When my boys were young snow days should have been relaxing and fun; instead, they were shouting matches, because their father could not understand why they did not want to get dressed, grab shovels and make money like he and I did when we were young.

Every. Single. Snow. Day. A shouting match. After shoveling our property all my boys wanted to do was stay in their pajamas, play in the snow, come in and drink hot chocolate, play video games, have their friends over, and go sledding.

But we heard the same line Every. Single. Snow. Day.

“Must be nice to be rich, and not need money. I HAD to shovel when I was young, because we were broke.”

Yeah, right.

All four of them remained stubbornly devoted to their own positions, no one giving an inch. He would yell, they would ignore him. He would yell, they would put headphones on and watch a movie. He would yell, they would leave with their friends. He would yell, they would pretend to nap. He would yell, they would play Legos.

They did not want to shovel and make money. Period.

Maybe that’s why I don’t care about the sidewalks or the driveway. Because I listened to them argue about it for almost two decades, and now it’s a sign of rebellion. I’ve heard talk of some more snow headed our way.

I’ll believe it when I see it.