In the late 1980's or early 1990's we got hammered with snow, one significant storm after another. My driveway was between two homes each with steep roofs, so if we got 18 inches, 36 inches fell into my driveway. Lots were only 45 feet wide.
If you didn't have a driveway, parking was at an absolute premium. The girls across the street, had two cars, and one was parked behind the other on a County road that had parking on each side, and two lanes North, and two lanes South. So they had two lanes of snow plowed into and under each of their cars. They worked for hours digging out their cars, creating piles of snow in front and behind each of their cars. The piles were 6-8 feet high. Hugh piles!
When they were all done, they realized that as soon as they moved one car out, someone else would take their spot. Therefore they couldn't use their cars. So, they removed the pile of snow that was between their cars, and placed it beside their cars, and dug out an exit for the front car. They would then pull the back car forward to block the entrance, and have an empty spot waiting for the return of the other car. Brilliant!!!... They should have thought of that sooner!
I had a 7 HP Simplicity snow blower. A great machine, the only problem is that it had only two forward speeds. Slow and Slower yet.
My driveway took two throws to get the snow to the back yard.
I did my next door neighbor's sidewalk and driveway... Uncle Sid. Gotta love him.
My other neighbor's corner lot property, (the old retired dentist) so happy with his little flower garden.
And the neighbor who's property ran along my back-yard. Their driveway and sidewalk.
I then went across the street to help the two girls clear a path to their back door, and to help a friend who's snow blower died on him, or couldn't handle the depth of the snow.
I then walked my slower than molasses blower, in the street, all the while leaning down on the handles to keep the blade out of the street, to my father's house 9 city blocks away. I was spent before I started that trek. By time I got there, I was DONE!
I did my Dad's driveway and sidewalk, and a path to the back of the house.
His neighbor across the street wanted me to do hers. I was DONE! She insisted... I'll pay you!... NO! ... How much do you want? I'll pay you!
OK a hundred dollars.
She agreed.
Oh damn!
So I did her driveway and sidewalk. She paid me by check.
My daughter's friend was dying of leukemia, I was going to donate to the cause.
The following day, this women read my Father the riot act at how I had overcharged her. She met someone with a plow who would have done her driveway for $20. (Yeah right! I asked a guy to push the snow forward, the length of ONE parking spot 15 feet, in the street in front of my house. He wouldn't drop his plow for less than $100.)
This past summer my Dad pulled out a copy of the two page letter I had written her, and read it at his birthday celebration. Two well written pages, that had us all laughing. I returned her check.
I hope she forwarded it... I doubt it.
____________________
So here we are 30 years later. A neighbor offered $100 for my grandkids to shovel their driveway and sidewalk, etc.
The kids had virtual school and homework and virtual meetings. I would have helped the kids, with the snow blower, so I told my daughter to tell them that I would do what I could with the blower to remove the bulk of the snow, but not the steps, etc. I wanted them to know that it wasn't going to be squeaky clean. She never made the call.
Fortunately, they were out there with shovels for an hour before I got there. They cleared the steps and walkway and were in the process of clearing the cars. Once I got started, I realized that I would never have done this for $100. They had a triple wide driveway and about 150 feet of sidewalk. All deeper than the throat of my blower. I was committed... I hope this doesn't end up like the last time.
Today my daughter found that plow drivers were demanding $450 for clearing the driveways, and not doing sidewalks.
Thankfully, these neighbors were extremely thankful. I hope this is the beginning of a long lasting friendship. :thumbsup: