Snowplow – Fabulous Reality
Sat., March 8, 08:11 AM
The Cheesebox sits at the end of a dead end street, which causes problems for service trucks and similar large vehicles. Typically, snowplows do one side of the block, then back up and plow the other lane. They have a bad habit of stopping before they’ve come to the end, leaving the whole supply in front of our driveway. I have found that, if I’m watching from the window, they’re a little more careful. I’d rather have them do it right the first time, because calling the City and asking them to do it over is… well, you know. Our private snow removers had already been here, so I couldn’t depend on being dug out afterwards.
So when I heard a plow last night, I settled myself at the window. The first run was mediocre; he hadn’t quite passed our drive. On the second run, he tried harder and pushed a little farther. Then he lifted the plow blade – maybe trying to push the top off the pile? – and the motor raced. The plow was stuck in the snow! When I realized he wasn’t going to get out easily, I called U.D. to come and look. You don’t see this every day.
Neighbors were coming from down the block, bearing shovels and wood to stick under the wheels. (I wasn’t sure why; it looked to me as if the blade was stuck.) U.D. wanted to go out with a camera; I don’t know how her brain works. The only light was the feeble street light, and all she might be able to accomplish would be to embarrass the driver. I’m sure it was just a lack of experience.
The city farms out most of its work, like trash removal, and the skeleton crew does as little as possible. In addition, some of these drivers – who got the job because they knew the right people – weren’t even born the last time we had such a snowy winter. (I’m aware that some of you are capable highway workers or related to someone who is. That is different from the political state of our community.)
Of course she went outside any way – her cigarettes were in the car – but ha! nobody noticed. She forgot that it’s not always about her. After ten or fifteen minutes of racing the motor, spewing exhaust, and spinning wheels, the plow worked itself free. It backed slowly down the block. It did not return. It was probably low on fuel by that time.
