We went to bed last night with a weather forecast of perhaps an inch of snow followed by rain.We woke up this morning to this winter wonderland with predictions of continuing snow until 4 p.m. After enjoying my walk yesterday in 50 degree weather, this was a bit of a culture shock.
Rather than drive over the snow and packing it down into difficult-to-remove ruts, I skipped my trip to the gym and W. didn't attend his morning coffee klatch at the Village Store. We would wait for the worst of the storm to be over and then break out the shovels and rev up the snowblower.
I was planted at my computer, positioned at windows looking out to the street in front of the house.
We live on a dead-end road. It would be helpful if the town could see their way to giving us a sign that shared this information with unwary visitors to our street because this is what I saw outside of my window.
I had a bad feeling as soon as I saw the truck.
We certainly hadn't ordered any furniture and yet here came this giant truck, backing down our tiny serpentine hill of a driveway.
And sure enough, they got stuck. They had thought ours was a through street and were trying to turn around.
Wheels spun, a delivery guy dug with his shovel, but to no avail. I knew what I had to do.
I went to the garage, retrieved two rubber mats, and instructed the gentleman with the shovel to place them in front of the back wheels. Sure enough, (and thank heaven) they were out on the first try.
Except now our pristine driveway - the one we stayed home to preserve - has two double-tired paths embedded in it by enough pressure to create diamonds out of coal.
Ah, well. The best laid plans of mice and men.
ReplyDeleteOur street is the same, but it does have a rudimentary turn around at the bottom of two hills and a mean curve, for the trash men. It has "not a through street" at the top, but that doesn't deter most of the people who think a road that goes straight downhill must be into the valley.
ReplyDeleteI live on a dead end street, too. Unfortunately people ignore the sign. Our driveway seems to be the preferred turn around point!
ReplyDeleteWe do have a circle at the end of the street, but this was a massive truck.
ReplyDeleteI think my next project will be to campaign for a sign - even if we are officially a private road. The road does have a street sign, and they plow and sand us, so why not?
Ours is at the end of a small hill and then suddenly you could plunge into woods.
You were home for a reason, to help that truck driver find a way out. Think, your driveway is already shovelled.
ReplyDeleteSigh. I am pretty certain that many (most?) delivery persons think that reading signs is beneath them and that they know better. I am surprised (and impressed) that they took your advice and assistance at getting out of your street.
ReplyDeleteA well told anecdote. You were a smart and good soul to help those men. They certainly had deadlines and did not want to be out when packed snow turned to ice. We got hail and then about an inch of very wet snow which is now all gone.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing, isn't it? After all our shoveling and snowblowing, much of the driveway has melted.
ReplyDeleteWell done Marty. You saved their day, even if they messed up your drive. But it did at least gave you a neat blog post.
ReplyDeleteGreat title! I know the feeling. It's easier to shovel snow if you don't mess with it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could make your own sign and stick it near your mailbox?
ReplyDeleteWe live on a dead-in street too and find people backing up into our driveway.
ReplyDeleteSmart thinking with the rubber mats and good riddance to them! Our streets and sidewalks are clear now; we'll have slush at the corners for days ,though.
ReplyDeleteWell, at leas you got rid of the truck! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
What a mess, but it sure looks beautiful there. How nice of you to help the men, even though them ruined your plan. A lot of folks would have stormed out mad.
ReplyDeleteI do sound like a great humanitarian, don't I?
DeleteIn reality, I saw their big truck sliding toward our car in the driveway and just wanted them out of there.
Curses! But yes, as others have pointed out, at least you don't still have a huge truck in your driveway. I'm surprised they were delivering in that weather!
ReplyDeleteI hear you Marty ! My husband and I do the same thing -- he hates those frozen tire tracks that require the ice chizel. Our driveway is on the North side and how we envy our neighbors across the street on the sunny south side !
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