During this horrendous weather we are having, I want to make a heartfelt request of everyone

[Donnachaidh]

PLEASE check in on your neighbors and make sure they are OKAY. Make sure they are WARM, and have food. And even perhaps, take a few moments to talk with them. Even the old farts that chase your kids off their lawns in the summer.

We've turned into a country that doesn't know HOW to take care of it's own, in many respects. And many elders and poor people will suffer in silence, for fear of being ridiculed for being *weak* and not having *bootstraps*.

This is a time when ALL of us need to turn off the cell phones, the iphones, the TV's and take a look around our own neighborhoods, to see if there is something we can do to help. Not for accolades, not for brownie points. Just to do it. If you need a reason call it karma cultivation.

PLEASE folks -- check on that older neighbor, or that family that is known to be struggling.

It's COLD out there - bring some warmth into your heart and then share it with others. Bring back the community care. Look out for your neighbors, and I'm sure they will look for an opportunity to help you when you need it.

[dugaresa]

1. Agree!

my husband has dug out two neighbors and I have been calling people to check in on them

[Just-plain-Kathy]

27. While growing up in the Bronx, my parents had us shoveling out all the old folks on the block.

Now my kids do the same.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd. Nice sentiment, good for all to consider. nt

[niyad]

3. k and r + 1,000,000 that was a most loving and thoughtful and generous-spirited post

as I watched the donation totals for the SD reservations last night, as I thought about the donations for the free clinics, for haiti, for katrina, for the tsunami victims, as I see people giving so selflessly of themselves, I am reminded that THIS is really what this country is all about.

THANK YOU

[hlthe2b]

4. Check on their pets too...

Dogs and cats need to be inside... Horses (where present) probably ought to be stabled in the highest snow areas.

[Carni]

13. Yes, definitely

The pets need to be inside at night at the very least!

[Bobbie Jo]

5. Bless you for this.

K&R. :kick:

[arthritisR_US]

6. this is absolutely wonderful. TY for being you :-) n/t

[MindandSoul]

7. Yes! Thank you for reminding all of us! And don't forget the pets!

[MyUncle]

8. How about the the people that had the McCain Palin signs on their lawn?

Now THAT would truly be a nice gesture.

[Donnachaidh]

14. I think this should be a time when *sides* are put aside, don't you?

Jeez Louise!

Those McCain folks can be suffering just as much, if not more. And they've been brainwashed so much about those *socialist dems* they would suffer rather than ask for help.

OFFER IT ANYWAY.

Caring doesn't have a *party*.

[Berserker]

16. I have

neighbors that are in love with her so I hope they pass out from the cold and there lips stick to the floor Fuck um. My neighbors suck!!!!!11

[Flying Dream Blues]

9. I wish I had another heart to give you.

But then again, you seem to have all the heart you need. Thanks for this post...we are all connected.
:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Huge K&R :) n/t

[Carni]

11. I'm in Northern VA

OMG WHAT THE HELL-- this storm sucked!!

I cannot begin to tell people how bad it is here (and I am in a mountain area to boot)

This is just crazy...most of my neighbors booked before the storm so they could stay with relatives and friends in *town* -- but I have tried to keep them updated about power restoration and conditions via my cellphone (when I was lucky enough to have a signal)

We went through 3 days of no power, heat, water, land line phone or cell phone... and the temps at night here were like 7 degrees (thank God for down blankets in multitude)

I am a relocated northerner and this is THE worst storm I have ever lived/suffered through!

I agree with the OP--this mess has ended up being life and death to a degree, so please check on those neighbors!

[On the Road]

12. That is a Very Thoughtful Suggestion

All my neighbors were outside shoveling snow yesterday, and they seemed in good health.

Amazingly, we cleared a block and a half of 30" snow to allow cars out. Then Baltimore got dumped on again last night and all the roads are closed again.

[sandnsea]

15. Thank you for thinking to do this

I was worrying that people were going to freeze in this, but didn't think to do anything about it. Glad you did!

[NEOhiodemocrat]

17. Very nice post

Thank you for caring about people. :)

[LuckyLib]

18. And speaking of brownies, if one is so inclined, bake up a little something for those elderly

neighbors. You'd be amazed how wonderful it makes them (and you!) feel.

[gimama]

19. Bless YOU, Baby!

thank YOU for Caring..& posting!

[Mari333]

20. knr

[NYC_SKP]

21. Also, people who only have cordless phones are Shit Out of Luck if the power goes out

So it's a good idea to check on the old folks to see if they have an old school hardwired phone or other communication during an outage.

Why news people don't mention this during storms is beyond me.

Good post, K and R.

[troubledamerican]

22. Native Americans trapped in snow 2 weeks, need shoes & food NOW

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/0oFFsK8c/Cheyenn-River-Sioux-Tribe

More information here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/35304569#35304569

[gimama]

46. thank YOU

& keep telling People.
Keep talking.
Keep shining Your Light on this.
thank YOU~===]

[JBoy]

23. People say that cold brutal winters is why Canadians are historically so polite.

You don't see it so much anymore, with snowblowers, SUVs, and electricity. But "back in the day" when you would literally die if you hadn't put away enough wood or meat for the winter, communal survival was the rule.

Even today, though, there are still times when nature forces us into this mode.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

25. You're right! Thank you so much, especially for noting the most ignored group

the elderly. Plenty of programs and campaigns for children, but I rarely see calls to support the most shunned group: the elderly. Guess they don't lend themselves to heartgrabbing photo-ops.

When I'm out doing errands, I always try to smile at elderly people I pass by, particularly women who seem to be alone and shunned (not cute to look at = shunned in this age-averse society). I try to meet their gaze and show some compassion and respect. I don't do it perfectly, and I'm not good at conversation, but just a kind look always gets such a powerful response.

Thanks again for the reminder. We will keep our eyes open for opportunities.

[closeupready]

26. K&R

n/t

[MissDeeds]

28. So nice of you to post this

K&R

[lunatica]

29. That explains why you have so many hearts!

Thanks for the heartfelt reminder.

[fascisthunter]

30. Kick! (nt)

[Mike 03]

31. Fantastic Idea, my neighbors are very elderly and one of them

just went through surgery. It is hard for them to even go to the mailbox. Not to mention sweeping snow out of their driveway.

Thank you so much for thinking to mention this.

[Mike 03]

32. Your post is so important and appropriate, would you mind if I posted on this same topic.

I do believe you have raised a vitally important issue,.

[Jazzgirl]

33. I have lived in Texas a combined total of 22 years.

I have NEVER seen this much snow at one time....and...all day!!! I stayed home today because I knew attempting to come home would be treacherous. I decided to go to the store at about 11 a.m. which is only a mile away. They had the street blocked because it is too dangerous! Kitteh and I are sitting here cozy and not going anywhere. Fortunately I do have plenty of food in the freezer. Brrrrr....!!!

[malaise]

34. Lovely post

Rec

[Samantha]

35. I did exactly that

We have about three feet of snow on the ground here in DC. I shoveled snow for the first time in my life yesterday. I had heard my neighbor try to open his door late the night before and could not do so. He is paralyzed from the waist down. I really felt bad about not being able to help him, but I could not get down my walk. So I got up early yesterday, and shovel I did. Down my walk, in front of my house, up his walk, up his stairs, across his deck. I cleared a lot of the deck, and opened up the screen door and banged on the front door. He finally opened it. I asked him if he was okay and if he had food. He answered yes. He thanked me for the work I had done.

I shoveled his walk again today, and cleared his deck again today. The neighbor across the street came out and asked me if I wanted him to pay someone to clear his back deck. I said yes. And could he also pay for the ramp down from the deck which leads to his car. He said yes. Pretty soon two people appeared, cleared the back deck, put down rock salt, and shoveled the ramp down to his car. He has a car especially designed for handicapped drivers. I shoveled in front of the driver-side door.

The neighbor on the other side came out. He cleared the walk in front of my handicapped neighbor's house, and then he came down and shoveled off my porch. The neighbor on the other side of me had hired a team to move the snow away from his house. He saw me working and sent one guy over to shovel out my car, and to move some of the snow away from my house so it would not leak into the basement if there comes a quick melt.

Being a good neighbor must be contagious. I felt better working at the house next door than I did my own home. But because everyone saw the necessity to step out and help, it all got done.

If only our politicians in Washington could work this way.

Sam

[suffragette]

38. That's true team work

It's wonderful that you helped your neighbor and that your action inspired your neighbors to come together as a community.

Hugs to all of you
:grouphug:

[Samantha]

39. I am so tired tonight I could hardly type that post

But I am so happy, so fulfilled that I was happy to help someone in need. It is a great feeling, and I think many in my community feel the same way tonight.

Sam

[suffragette]

40. As the heart says:

:yourock:

Hope you can be treated to a well-earned massage , or at the least, take a relaxing warm bubble bath to soothe the muscles.

[G_j]

36. So Important! thanks for the reminder!

:hug:

[nolabear]

37. K&R& a heart.

Thanks for the compassion and for encouraging us all to put our money where our mouths are, so to speak. Keep it up and someday someone may accuse YOU of being a "community organizer."

[Withywindle]

41. K & R

Bless you for posting this.

You never know when a small act of kindness might make ALL the difference to someone else.

[burrowowl]

42. Even if you are not in the snow

Check in on your alone and elderly neighbors!
Here's to Donnachaidh!


:toast: :toast:

[tpsbmam]

43. I love this! K&R

Thanks for doing this....I'm actually one of those people who needs help in weather like this. I have a new neighbor who twice now, not even asking for a thanks, has quietly come and shoveled me out and shoveled our whole private road when we've gotten big snows. I live in the South and it's not like the North, where I grew up and lived all but the last 5 years. Here I haven't even been able to find anyone to plow our private road & my driveway. I'm disabled and can't do it myself -- I'd be stuck here until the snow melted if no one helped out. He's just quietly done it. It means the world to me -- what a kind, wonderful thing for a person to do. When I called him to thank him the last time, he just said he figured of all people around here I might need to get out (for medical reasons) and it needed to be done.

So thank everyone like him and thank you for reminding all of us -- even if we can't physically help, we can pick up the phone to check on people & spread a little love.

(Edited to add a little.)

[TatonkaJames]

44. Done !

For ten years since I moved to our new town and immediately made many new friends
with our neighbors, I would plow half a dozen properties when it snowed. They were
all genuinely grateful.
Now that I had back surgery and not able to lift or run a mower, I wasn't surprised that
our property was plowed and shoveled by the same group who I took care of low these many years.
It was nice to spend a little time with them in the street and sharing some laughs.
Thanks for the reminder for us all !

[tabbycat31]

45. I wish I saw this earlier

but also check on your neighbors as they're shoveling snow. There was more than one instance a few years ago where people in their mid 50s in my hometown died shoveling snow.