It snowed last night here in Burbank – actual snow fell from the sky. It basically never happens. I was so excited when Awesome woke me up, even though it was about 4 a.m. You see, we'd agreed a couple years back that we would get snow shovels and if it ever snowed, we would work hard to get things cleared out. Because the city has no equipment and most people don't know what to do.
When we went out into the main apartment complex area, though, it was already partly cleaned off. A large man with a shovel was working on clearing the rest. Awesome and I just got to work on another part.
It was so quiet this morning. I couldn't even hear the traffic going by. I never realized how much snow muffles sound. All I could hear was the scrape-scrape of shovels and my own breathing. It was so peaceful. No wonder people talk about a white Christmas so reverently. The snow really was beautiful and amazing.
As we were finishing up the main area, the other man became clear. It was Casey! I never would have expected it. I was going to say something, but Awesome hit me on the shoulder and zipped his mouth. He was right – working together in the quiet was much more of a bonding experience than I would have thought.
After we finished, Awesome asked Casey "Coffee?" Casey simply nodded. They went in right away while I made a snow angel. I just couldn't resist. I don't get the opportunity very often.
When I went in, all three were enjoying coffee and I had a cup already poured, too. It was wonderful, but we didn't sit long. Awesome and Ellie had to get to the hospital and they knew it would be a long drive. I asked Casey "Buy More?" while indicating our shovels. He nodded.
It was a quiet drive in. And it was kind of long. But it wasn't a weird silence. It was just early, quiet, and different. Maybe that's the way to bond with Casey. It was hard for me, but it seemed to work.
We shoveled a few spots in the parking lot and really worked on the sidewalks for the whole complex. Casey obviously left the spot in front of the Orange Orange for me, so I got to do that myself, which was great. I really felt like I could do something for Sarah. When we were done, Casey gave me a nod. I think it was a nod of respect.
Then, when Sarah got to work, she came into the Buy More right away. I saw her talking to Casey briefly, and he pointed at me. She came over and gave me a big hug (more than a cover hug?) and told me how much she appreciated that I had shoveled snow for her. It's hardly fair to be praised for doing something that so fulfilling on its own.