As I was slowly (and I do mean slowly) shoveling a narrow path along the driveway to the mailbox about 200 feet away, up drives our mailman, David Rea, in a large, well used John Deere tractor, with snow blade mounted on the back. His wife was driving their old jeep behind the tractor, and since mail delivery had been canceled because of the snow storm, both were out in the neighborhood helping those to whom they deliver mail, shovel out. He stopped and said, "Need some help?"
He did not say there would be a cost for this much needed help, but when I asked he said, "Whatever you want to pay is fine with me." While he plowed our long driveway, along with the large paved parking area in the back outside the garage, his wife shoveld to clean up in spots. The above photo shows one large pile of snow he pushed to the end of our driveway, near the back storage shed.
The Rae family is no stranger to us, since David's brother, Steve, had put new roof shingles on our house a few years ago, plus put up new aluminum siding over exposed wooden trim, etc. Also, David sometimes drives his jeep up the driveway when its raining hard, to the parking area by our back porch and garage, and then honks his horn so we can come out to get the mail without us getting wet. He never forgets to shake my hand say say, "How's it going Mister Morgan?"
Here's a family who holds many truly American values that too many others today have totally forgotten. To make ends meet, they all have to work several jobs—but still, they are always willing to share and help others when needed, without asking for anything in return. Like I said, just plain folks.
