Snow Shoveling Reflections

I had the pleasure of shoveling snow to remove 16 inches of snowfall from a 9000 sq ft bnb in Leavenworth a couple weeks ago at 6am. I’ll repeat, it was a pleasure. To get up, complete a task, take in nature, get personal with it. Work up a sweat as a necessity to be able to leave the house and allow the guests to drive off in the morning. It was a form of moving meditation and I relished it. It made me think back on my days and years living in alaska and reflect on how much that time shaped and molded me. It toughened me and was one of the greatest “teachers” life has provided thus far. While I didn’t love shoveling my car out on the regular back then or hauling groceries up a steep long uphill driveway when my car would get stuck at the base 50+ ft from the house, I can think back fondly and smile at the tasks now because I know I’m tough enough to withstand even Alaskan winters. As a sourdough and not a “chichaco” as the locals like to call it for having lived 2+ winters there. Missing alaska these days, even the winters and have an extra love, respect and appreciation for snow as a result of my time up there.