Two Cents Worth
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We all do it - put off doing things we really know we should, then never quite getting around to it. It could be deadly.
Morgan had a wrestling tournament last Friday, so I took him to Woodstock Thursday around 8:30 p.m. when he was done work. The storm was nowhere in sight and I was pretty sure the worst would miss us. When all was still clear at 3:30 a.m., I knew I was right.
What a shock at 8 a.m. to see what Mother Nature had deposited on us. I dressed quickly, even though it was still snowing hard, to get the driveway cleaned before I wasn’t able to lift it. Morgan had picked a good day to be away.
It was seven or so inches deep already, but I managed to get a swath cleared behind the van so I could get out, still hoping to make my lunch date in Tillsonburg. By the time I had finished, I needed to start over but this old back was just not having any of it.
I cancelled my date. Morgan called, and his friend’s mom said they had a big four-wheeler and would bring him home. So I settled in for a quiet, ordinary, normal, Canadian winter snow day at home.
After having something to eat and doing some chores I was feeling really tired and my back was killing me. All that shoveling had taken a lot out of me, so I thought I might lie down and have a bit of a nap.
Before I could do that, Morgan arrived home. First he gave me the devil for shovelling, then said he would go out to do it again since there was another four inches or so and the plows had been by to load up the end of the driveway.
He asked what the funny smell was? I hadn’t noticed. He said it smelled like gas, but I figured someone in the neighbourhood had likely started up an old snow blower or something. I was not the slightest bit alarmed, but he was quite insistent, so I called a friend who lives around the corner who does that stuff and told him Morgan’s concern.
Mike came over in a few minutes, tool pouch and some kind of meter in hand. He walked in and told us we could not stay in the house. We opened all the windows while he checked to see which appliance was causing the problem. He shut off the gas to a faulty furnace. The wind blowing through the open windows quickly dissipated the C0 and things cooled down quickly as well. When he declared it safe, I started the gas fireplace and we closed all the windows.
Why do these things always happen on the worst day of the winter season? Mike brought over some heaters for the basement, so the pipes didn’t freeze. With the drapes all pulled tight and the fireplace going, things were soon quite comfortable. I think keeping the furnace set at 62 degrees all winter has stood us in good stead to handle this.
When things calmed down and I had a chance to think about it all, the realization of what just about happened really scared me. If Morgan hadn’t come home early, I would have taken that nap and would not be here to write this column and you would all be reading a different kind of write-up in the paper.
That was just too close of a call for me. I am so grateful to be here to remind all of you to install CO detectors and make sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly. Don’t put it off another day. Don’t wait until something horrible happens.
twocentsworth40@hotmail.com