grateful

new york received 18 inches of snow last night. for those of you who do not live in a climate such as this a) i hate you and b) just imagine a foot and a half of snow on your doorstep. now, as i mentioned previously, i am attempting to embrace the snow but as i was taking my evening jog last night and the snow was furiously pelting me in the face, that was an increasingly difficult task.

in an attempt to become a more grateful individual and maintaining the impeccable manners with which chris and melody raised me, i must say one thing in regards to the continuous snow that carpets the dirty side walk on which i walk daily. thank you.

i do not own a shovel. i have never purchased salt for any reason other than to test the boundaries of my own blood pressure. despite both of these facts, on most days i walk on at least partially cleared off roadways and for that, i am thankful. i am thankful that the small business owners and patiarchs of sprawling families in my neighborhood rise to the bitter cold and murky grey skies each morning and shovel the sidewalks, so i can walk 8 blocks to the subway.

although my tone is sarcastic; a tone i have perfected over decades, the sentiment is very real and to the men and women with whom i reside uptown, i would like to offer a very real thank you for making snow days just a little bit easier.

january 2011