Another 8″ of snow fell over the weekend, but I was ready for it this time — my snowblower was full of gas and the spare gas can was topped off. But, I couldn’t get the darned thing started, nothing but smoke and a few weak put-putter-putter-put-puts. Just enough life in it to make me pull the starter cord one more time. Now, I was running out of gas, so I shoved it aside, muttered (no, shouted) a few bad words and went in the house for a cup of coffee.
Sometimes I think these machines have feelings too. After a good pep talk and letting it sit in the corner for a while thinking about its shameful behavior, the snowblower reluctantly showed some life and started running, sounding like an asthmatic cross country runner. It smoked so bad it looked like I was spraying for mosquitoes. It ran long enough for me to clear the driveway, but I couldn’t help but think the snowblower was snarling at me while it muttered its last words between gasps and sputters, “You owe me one”. I think its going to make a good boat anchor.
I spent the rest of the day staring out the window for long periods of time, wondering when some color would return to the landscape. Geez, nothing but white and various shades flat gray, and its only January 24th. Ugggh! And then, just when I was about to think I was in a windowless padded cell with white walls and lights that never turn off, I saw this beautiful monarch butterfly fly into my peripheral vision and try to land on the peak of this snow drift. The sun was shining on him just right, making his orange/black wings even more brilliant against the colorless background. What a magnificent sight! Real or not, it sure lifted my spirits.
Thought for the day: If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?
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