I don’t exactly know why, but I enjoy snow blowing.
![]() snow blower |
I think it began when I was college. My freshman year I stayed on during the January earning money from Building & Grounds. For much of the time they simply said, “Go shovel some snow.” It was quiet, peaceful, and solitary. It was physical labor. It was a good time to think, and the setting was inspirational.
A couple of years later, in order to fulfill a graduation requirement, I needed to design and complete a “social practicum”. I decided to shovel snow for my neighbors. Upon asking them for permission, I got a lot of strange looks. “Why would you want to shovel my snow?”, they’d ask. I’d say, “Because I am more able to do it than you. I’m just being helpful and providing a social service.” Surprisingly, many people did not take me up on my offer, but a few did.
I now live and work in northern Indian only forty-five minutes from Lake Michigan where “lake effect” snow is common. I own a big, bad snowblower. It gives me a sense of power, and even though it disturbs the quiet, I enjoy the process of cleaning my driveway and sidewalk. I enjoy trying to figure out the most effectient way to get the job done. I enjoy it so much I even snow blow around the block.
Snow blowing and librarianship
What does this have to do with librarianship? In reality, not a whole lot. On the other hand, one of the aspects of librarianship, especially librarianship in public libraries, is community service — providing means for improving society. My clearing of snow for my neighbors is done in a similar vein, and it works for me. I can do something for my fellow man and have fun at the same time. Weird?
P.S. Mowing the grass gives me the same sort of feelings.
Tags: community service
I am so glad I do not have to deal with any more lake effect.
I enjoy shoveling / snow blowing too. I find that unlike a lot of the professional work I do there is a payoff at the end with snow. Yes, it will snow again and all my work will be for naught, but it is hard to feel as if you haven’t accomplished something when you have those nice crisp lanes of freshly plowed snow to look back on.
You can keep mowing the grass. I’m allergic.