LETTER: All hail, the plow guys of winter

By Peter Neill

To the Editor:

The spectrum of winter weather is upon us: snow, ice, freezing rain, flood, high winds, zero degrees, illusionary thaw, icy roads, fallen trees, bright-eyed spectral deer. To clear and accommodate, we rely on the plow guys: the state guys, the town guys, the driveway and sidewalk guys, even the unpaid guys at home, who, in the dark of night and the gray of mornings, ofttimes in a row, are up and out there to push, and clear, and sand to enable our safe paths forward.

Paid or otherwise, it is a thankless job…so I am writing to invite us all to shout out our thanks because, without them, where would we be and how would we get there? And, while we’re at it, let’s extend that gratitude to the volunteer fire guys, the utility repair guys, the oil and gas truck guys, the ER nurses, the ambulance drivers, and the EMTs, and all the others, our neighbors, who are there, too, helping us, often without our thanks.

At the heart of community is service, and shared interest, and first response at the time when we need it most. Flash your lights, touch the horn, give a wave, and say "Thanks guys” — all of you. 

—Neill is an author, radio show host, and founder of World Ocean Observatory. He is also the chair of the board of The Rising Tide. He lives in Sedgwick.

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