If there's one thing I love about my neighborhood, it's the spirit of cooperation among the neighbors. It's been snowing steadily and hard since last night, and everybody's out shoveling walks. The funny thing is, though, that very few people out shoveling are shoveling their own walks. The whole pay it forward thing is on a bit of a loop. You go out to shovel your own walk, discover that it's already been shoveled, and then you shovel the walk next door. It's almost becoming a bit of a competition to see who can be the one to get out first to do their own walk and that of their neighbor!
And you'd think my neighbors would have the advantage there, being old and all. Oh they are pure stealth, the elderly. You think they're just being feeble, going to bed all early and stuff, but that's exactly what they want you to think. "Oh you kids stay up and have a good time, I'm going to get some shut eye" they say, but what they mean is "Wear yourself out there, kiddo - I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning, but you won't see me. You'll be completely unconscious, and I'll be sharp as a tack and ready for action MWAH HAHAHAHAHA!"
And THAT's when they let their guard down. Make a note of that, because they don't let it down often. Remember, they're retired - they have nothing better to do all damn day but figure out ways to get a jump on you. You find a chink in their armor, you penetrate - don't hesitate!
You go and you get up early, grandpa. Sweep that morning skiff of snow right up. And then you just take that lovely little gratified grin of yours off to the senior's center and enjoy your little bridge game, secure in the knowledge that you'll be home again in lots of time to scrape up the snow still falling before everybody gets back from work...
...but oh wait, what's this? Could it be...
...a work at home artist with no social life?
Oooh yeah you got competition now, shovel boy! And oh, look what else you have. A clean sidewalk. A clean sidewalk that YOU didn't shovel.
Now who's the altruistic one? Huh? Huh? Now who's got the warm feeling of neighborly love?
That's right, baby. The game just got taken to the next level.
How early you gonna go to bed now, hard candy man?
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Nothing but Random: Random Tuesday Thoughts
3 days ago
23 comments:
ahaha...your heart shines through...on your own terms...smiles.
You set an endearing example.
Great now a competition for passing it on. Love it.
That is so funny Tattiara! I wish my neighbors were that nice. But your right about older people, I go to bed by 9:00 and and up by 5:30!!
Love Di ♥
Hilarious.. and I think you live on my street. :)
Please can you sneak up behind one, and parcel him/her over here, please?
Throwin down the gauntlet with old people, hopefully it's a short winter.
Those crafty seniors with their sneaky do gooding … you're showing them!!
That's the way to show 'em, you whippersnapper, you. *heads out humming "what the world needs now, is love sweet love..."* Way to go!
This sounds like a geriatric conspiracy. What is the world coming to?
Competitive altruism... I see this becoming an Olympic sport.
Where have you been?
I've missed you.
Welcome back.
It never snows in Sydney
Wow, they're real altruistic down your way. Here snow-covered pavements and paths just stay unswept until the snow melts again.
Yep, at the age of 64, I figured out the early to bed, full of beans at 6am routine some time back. While the teenagers are still sleeping off their massive hangovers, I'm up and about and fully informed on the latest global economic disasters.
"Oh they're pure stealth, the elderly...' made me chortle. That's right, chortle. Thanks for being my 250th follower at LightenUp! I can see you're a nut, so I happily followed back. :)
I'm with Dawn on the bit about the elderley. Chuckle...
Thanks for stopping by, lemme know how painkillers work out for numbing your tootsies after strutting about in heels for hours!
x.o.x.o
Genius.
"sharp as a tack and ready for action" sums up my elderly neighbours like nothing else.
My 80-yr-old neighbour pretends to be deaf, partially sighted and too frail to do anything, we never see her leave the house.
UNTIL we managed to leave our door unlocked. Presumably having witnessed us leave the house, and not having heard the click of the lock, she then left her house for the first time we have ever known, tried our door, and then gallivanted down the street gossipping to the entire world.
I don't know Tatty...I think you've always been able to shovel it pretty well.
I have no neighbors. But then, I have no snow either. I am, however, an old fart. Beware...
Missed you, kiddo.
Love the one-upping!
I agree. We should keep a tight eye on these old people. Oh wait. I forgot I'm one of them. Luckily, there's no snow here.
Oh, we need a zillion shoveling seniors here - it's been snowing since last night and still going on...I've so much had enough of winter and snow!
Your visit was a nice surprise :)
LOL! I love this! What a great neighborhood to live in!! So many people could care less about their neighbors. Having a competition for niceness would be a fine place to live. ;) Hope you win!
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