Two Cents Worth
Article content
We are all becoming so cynical but there is hope.
Recently, I went to replace a very old flip phone. A friend had gone a few days earlier and was telling me about the wondrous $600-plus phone she was looking at. After I picked myself up off the floor I said there had to be cheaper phones and was told the cheapest ones were almost $300. I couldn’t even imagine looking at a cell phone for that kind of money.
So I went in to the cell phone place and told the young man who waited on me, I needed a replacement for the phone I was holding in my hand. He looked at it and asked what all I did with my phone. I said I only needed it to call CAA if I had a problem on the road. I told him I didn’t text, didn’t email or need to connect to the Internet. I don’t listen to music on it, or watch TV, or movies, or take pictures with it. He advised me where to go to buy one compatible to their program for $55 and to bring it to him and he would move everything from one to the other.
This young man understood my requirements and didn’t try to sell me something I didn’t want nor need.
I did as he advised and took the new version in and he did exactly what he said he would do at no cost to me. I had him show me how to work it. You know, turn it on and off. He told me if I left it off, no one would be able to call me, to which I said I didn’t want people to call me.
“Good for you,” he said.
I appreciate that kind of service.
On Monday I was asked if I lived in Otterville. I asked why and the gentleman said he thought he recognized me while I was shoveling snow. I was initially horrified because I don’t put any effort into my shoveling “look” and then shocked because most folks, even those who know me well, look the other way when they see me out shoveling. I guess they want me to think they didn’t see me so I wouldn’t expect them to help. This man apologized for not stopping and I know he is the kind of man who would not look the other way.
I am quite capable of shoveling my own driveway and, in fact, enjoy it as long as it’s not too deep. If it is more than I can handle I have folks who will come and take care of it for me. I do not have an expectation of help but I just don’t get the complete lack of old-fashioned neighbourly support. It’s just not a nice world when folks with snow blowers and tractors drive by without even offering to help - not just me, but everyone.
Last week, after the first decent snowfall of the season, with schools closed, a couple young men, whom I don’t know, on four wheel drive snow blowers went up and down the street and cleaned everyone’s driveway. I had mine done except for the snow plow build up when they arrived at my place. One finished it up for me while the other began work on the neighbour’s driveway. With a wave and a smile on they went up the street.
It’s reassuring to know there are some people out there who still do care about being neighbourly. I thank these two young men and give credit to their parents for a good job at raising them. We need more of them.