Icy driveway

Sharon Elizabeth Carlson
2 min readJan 15, 2022

Sharon Carlson <sharon.carlson08@gmail.com>

Jan 12, 2022, 12:43 PM (2 days ago)

to Opinion

Walking to the end of the driveway to retrieve my newspaper, garbage cans or the mail in the mailbox is treachery at it’s finest. I analyze crystallized ice formations with every step. Resembling beautiful patterns of frost and shiny looking glazes I try to discern ice from condensation. Continuing to navigate down the driveway becomes an exercise in skill and precision after all.

That little mound of snow packed tire tracks from my car could present a problem, therefore walking over to the crusted ridge might be a better bet. Observing a dusting of the white stuff over an icy patch could also be risky business. I stop and pivot. Halfway down the driveway I feel more confident navigating through the ridges of sand and salt while contemplating my decision to forgo wearing my “springy thingys” on the bottoms of my shoes. Too much effort to put on, better to traverse the unknowns of traction throughout a chilly morn.

I notice the narrow green bag containing the Strib is in the middle of a rumpus of hardened snow plowed mess at the end of the driveway. Yikes! Thank goodness for a flat footed “Minnesota walk”! I lean down and grab the prize. On the way back up I decide, screw it, snow bank here I come!

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