Clear Snow off Concrete
was Aunt Pat’s Advice!
Six inches of snow arrived soon after we moved into our Bettendorf, Iowa home.
My kids and I were sledding in the front yard when a neighbor approached. As she
walked up the incline of my snow-covered driveway, I said a prayer she would not
fall. She introduced herself as Aunt Pat and we chatted about how my three kids
were enjoying the snow. The new snow shovel she carried turned out to be a house
warming present. She asked if I would be open to some ideas about dealing with
snow. I invited her in for coffee and listened to her fascinating story.
“Before our move to Iowa,” said Aunt Pat, as she lifted a cup of coffee from our
serving tray, “we lived in Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky. My snow clearing strategy
is the same wherever I live. It is my job alone now, as my husband is deceased and
my five kids moved away.”
I nodded my head sympathetically and hoisted my coffee mug as a silent salute.
“I learned my shoveling strategies by watching how people deal with snow Up North,
where it snows a lot, said Aunt Pat. “I assume snow will not melt away by itself. The
worst storm I remember started with winter rain and was followed by ten inches of
snow. We did not promptly clear the initial slush from our pavements, so when
temperatures dropped below freezing, the slush transformed into thick ice that
was too difficult to remove. It seemed like a glacier and the ice stayed around for
a month. My family and I pledged to be prepared and motivated to promptly clear
snow in the future, to minimize the chance of any future ice-flow formations.”
Aunt Pat asked me to pass the coffee creamer and continued.
“So old widows like me do not fall and get hurt, please clear snow from your driveway
and sidewalks. For your spouse and family, express your love through the courtesy
of prompt snow removal. To paraphrase the lyrics of my favorite Bing Crosby song,
“As long as you love me so, clear the snow, clear the snow, clear the snow.”
The image of