Shoveling Snow Theories

I have a theory when it comes to shoveling snow.

It goes something like this: When you are trying to get a car removed, or create a path to walk (when the snow is over a foot). Shoveling snow is fine. When it comes to a few inches shoveling snow is NOT and I repeat NOT necessary and in fact can be very dangerous. Let me explain.

When you shovel snow that is only a few inches deep, what you have done is remove the "traction" you get when you walk (like down steps or down driveways). This especially happens when you first get freezing rain or if you know you have ice under the snow. Ever slipped in a parking lot where they have removed the snow. This is what has happened. When you remove the snow you actually make it easier to create a nice sheet of ice for someone (mainly me) to fall down on. All traction is lost and people can die.

So anyway I have attempted to explain this theory for years to Renea. "Don't sweep or shovel the snow. It will just make it more slippery." and over the oh, let's say 12 years, she has ignored me, and this past weekend it almost cost me my life.

Renea mentions that the back steps are icy. I don't ask if she has cleared them off, knowing that she doesn't subscribe to my shoveling theory and has probably cleared them off anyway (which is the reason WHY they are icy). I head out the back steps to the car, knowing that they are icy, but not expecting miniature ice rinks on each step. I hit the first step and that is the last step I hit with a full foot. The next 9 steps only pieces of my boot hit and bounce off the steps as my arms are flailing about trying to keep me upright and hanging onto the railings. I look like Bambi on ice as I hit the concrete last step and amazingly I am upright. I am sore today and my back felt like giving out all day, but I survived.

Now I am convinced that Renea is trying to kill me. It is a slow painful way she is attempting to do it, but she is doing it. Trying to slowly drive me crazy by not listening to the shovel theory and also by trying to make me crack open my melon on some large ice steps as I leave the house . . . I forgot to mention that her and Owen came out the front of the house huh. Yea she is trying to kill me.