Debbie, your neighborhood sounds exactly like mine! Except we are staggered, every other house a retired couple bookended by a younger family, most with three or more kids of every age. Such a nice mix, and we all moved in together ten years ago; so after lots of block parties in the cul de sac and BBQs in someone's back yard we are like one big family. Plus we have a city cop, a town cop, a couple who work for the electric company and the DOT, a nurse and so on, good to have friends in high places!

A friend of ours who owns the Honda shop came over the day before to show me how to use the snowthrower that Ray bought during the last big one four years ago. It was pretty easy to figure out but with the depth and wetness of the snow we got here, it still wasn't easy. I started a couple of hours after it started, figured I would need a few sessions and I was right! I made sure the garage (ramp inside) was totally clear to the passenger side of the car, as that is how we usually go in and out, but also did the front walk to the front door, thinking it would be easier if 911 had to be called, the stairs up are right inside the front door. No one else did that as far as I could see, it was a lot of extra work but in my usual paranoia I figured, just in case. Then I sat back to wait for the plow and since we have the best highway dept in the universe, they came just before dinnertime Saturday. They could hardly make it down the block with the weight of the ice underneath the snow, took a looong time but they made it. All the neighborhood men were standing at the ready, at the end of their driveways, just waiting to fill in that last link to the world. So I go out too to join the party only to find that what the plow kicked up was solid ice the size of boulders! I started shovelling by hand but was ready to say forget it when my neighbor across the street, who has more of a professional size snowblower, yelled over to wait for him. He did me and everyone else on all sides, what a relief. I had some gumbo left from my Mardi Gras party and brought him over a tub of it the next morning, since I know he loves it, and his wife hates to cook. I knew he'd rather have a bottle of Jack Daniels but I don't have one laying around (well not a full one anyway!)

Still haven't gone out anywhere, but now I can and the EMTs can get to us too. That was my main thought really, sad but always a possibility. While he was still working on me, he offered to do another person's driveway end when he walked up to see what was happening, they are both in their 40s though and he said "We don't need to go anywhere". I wanted to scream, but what if there is an emergency? Wish I didn't have to think that way. But it's all good now, although I think almost every school and many businesses are still closed today. As a matter of fact, I heard a rumor that they STILL didn't open the expressway due to abandoned cars. Glad we have nothing much planned until Weds!

You could call that a family affair or all in the family and that's a good thing when you got a few crooks trying to steal what you've worked hard to get over time. It's always good when neighbors stick together to sorta watch out for each other.

Mostly young families around us here. Where we lived before we had neighbors who lived on the street until they passed away. I think I went to 25 funerals/visitations during my 38 years there. People bonded more there and we had neighborhood parties. Here it is different with not much neighborhood partying. My friend two blocks down has the partying neighbors and they some times watch too closely. lol I know I can call any of the neighbors around me and they will come and help. The wives of 3 of the neighbors are young and do not work so they are home most of the time. Our neighborhood gets plowed every 20 minutes when the snow falls but I have a big driveway. Hope we can avoid the big snow again this year!

Hope you are able to get out Debbie.

Julie

We were finally plowed out at 2:30 pm today - two passes, barely one car width, but it is done. Paul and John, just arrived - 7:15 pm, so at least I will be able to get my car out of the garage in the morning. Then will probably spend most of the afternoon shoveling out the truck. I had cleaned out the back and most of the snow off it, except one side. With the warm temperatures and the sun, that far side should be OK, once I can get to it.

The snow plow wash at the end of the driveway is at least six feet high and my driveway is the best on the street! They'll get it with the plow I am sure.

I did think of 911 but there was not much I could do, so tried not to panic and took things here in the house slow and easy - no falls allowed - LOL.

I know we did not have anywhere to go, but when one has spent most of one's adult life getting to school or work, it is tough to relax. Nervous energy as well. I think it is mostly having the control taken away - yet again. Not that you choose not to, but that you truly can't. Debbie