Shoveling the Driveway
Nov 22
It snowed in Ottawa today. For anyone who lives in the area, this isn’t exactly breaking news, but like many other people today, I had the opportunity to participate in the age-old ritual of shoveling my driveway after I got home from work. My driveway is longer this year, so I had more time to think as I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise… nothing around but the distant sound of a snowplow and neighbours clearing their driveways.
Today is Thanksgiving for our neighbours to the south, the USA. A national day of thanksgiving and prayer for the nation, established a long time ago by Abraham Lincoln, who was leading his country in the middle of a civil war when he established Thanksgiving Day.
As I was pondering this, and shoveling, I can say that I am thankful. Thankful that I have a driveway to shovel, because it means I have a house and a car. Thankful that my arm is a little sore from playing too much Wii Sports the other day, because it means I have friends who I can spend time playing childish games with. Thankful for the snow that covers my driveway because it also covers the ground and protects it, as well as providing water to the farm fields that grow our food when it melts in the spring.
I could go on, but I have something else to be thankful for… supper! It may not be turkey with all the fixin’s, but it’s good food and I’m hungry!
~ Nat