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My faith in humanity has been restored once again, following yet another snowstorm that blew through Ottawa this past weekend and left me holding the shovel. Again.

I shovelled for an hour, sweating, almost to the point of tears, as I wondered why it is that I don’t have anyone doing it for me! Nevertheless I was trooping exhaustively when I heard it coming — that Jurassic-like sound that sends shivers down my spine in fear. I think of it as a gigantic yellow mantis, but in metal (better known as a grader). I was always terrified of them as a child and still find myself cringing when I see them approaching.

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I stood in disbelief as it mercilessly scraped by, adding three feet to the one foot of snow already created to the zone of separation between street and driveway. I must have looked completely defeated, standing there in my pyjama pants tucked into boots and jacket, morning hair and tears threatening. Amazingly, the driver of the monster plow turned around and stopped at my driveway. The bucket was most gently lowered at the far end of my drive so that it was three feet in and he drove the scoop in and removed all but a few inches.

He reversed, stopped and smiled.

I could not have been more astonished as this was a first ever in my life. I smiled and mouthed thank you. He continued to smile and I believe that this City of Ottawa snowplow driver felt as good as I did for his kind and considerate good deed.

Thank you mister snowplow driver, you are my hero.

IngridDion, Ottawa

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