Oklahoma is currently in the middle of its first snow storm in nearly a decade, with temperatures ranging from -6 - 3 degrees F from dawn to dusk. It’s cold, things are slow., and there is lots of light, white powder all over the ground, which has led me to a problem: I have no way to remove it.
One thing I’ve learned that Oklahoma lacks is a place that sells a good snow shovel. I suppose in a normal year, there just isn’t much use for it, but this year, it would’ve been helpful to be able to trek on down to Lowe’s and pick one up for this sort of occasion, but alas, i’m snow shovel-less in a snowed-in world.
“Good thing my neighbors are from Colorado.”
Or so I thought.
But I was wrong. Upon texting them to ask if I could borrow their snow shovel, assuming they had one, I was shocked to hear that they don’t have a snow shovel, much less ever intend on buying one again, and not just because they live in Oklahoma now.
Tom, my neighbor, says he has fully converted to using a piece of particleboard instead of any sort of shovel.
“I just get behind it like a snow plow and go to work. It’s way more efficient, plus it’s easier on my back,” he says.
I couldn’t believe it, and initially, I was a little peeved at my reliance on ‘neighbors from Colorado’ to come through during a snow storm; however, after I tried it, the particleboard that it, all pre-peevedness melted away.
Tom was right, and he’ll forever go down as a legend in my book for his substitution of a normally useless piece of wood for one of man’s most modern inventions, and honest engine, I don’t think i’ll ever by a snow shovel myself now. It’s particleboard or bust and a realization that sometimes you can best fix life’s problems with something that looks just like a scrap piece of lumber.
-Cliff
Cliff’s Note: Know your neighbors, trust their wisdom and boycott snow shovels.