Independence

I have been a very independent person all my life.  I left home when I was 17 and have supported myself ever since.  One of my big fears about aging is that I won't have enough physical strength to take care of myself and my dwelling.

This past week, the city I live in had a record-breaking dump of snow.  It feels like I've been shovelling non-stop for the past 3 days.  I finally had to yell "uncle" when I realized that there is nowhere left on this property to pile snow.  I will just have to wait for some to melt.  There were some gifts in this.  The first and biggest is that I am able to shovel for 3  days straight without a heart attack or putting my back out of commission.  (I won't claim that I don't have sore muscles, but only in that good "well-used" way.)  I am very well!

The second was a really dear neighbour who, without fanfare, used his snowblower to clear the end of my driveway after the snowplough went by. 

And the third is that I realize I will not likely be able to do this for 25 more years.  And that's okay; I can give employment to local teens!  Seriously, I think I'm going to have to learn to live with some dependence on others.  My task will be to learn how to ask; that won't be easy.