my parents are brilliant.

because when we were kids they made shoveling snow seem like some sort of event. the three of us each had our own shovel. audrey's a bit taller with a red handle, mine and emily's the same but labeled with colored tape. creating communicated ownership and the implication that these shovels were "ours" is down right genius. kudos dave and lisa, i've pretty much just now realized this.

we'd have contests, see who could build the biggest mounds, and our competitive spirits would be appeased by mom and dad's neutral judging, making sure to compliment each of us for a different quality about our snow mounds. "audrey that looks like an igloo" or "emily, so neat and compact," and "claire, getting that part of the driveway really isn't easy darling!"

in total seriousness, they weren't slave drivers or something, merely brilliant parents who yes, did most of the shoveling, but did have a 3 extra sets of elbow grease to make the hot cocoa come that much faster.

today i shoveled my car out in boston, and was laughing inside my head thinking how i once thought this was cool. mom and dad, brilliant, juuuust brilliant.... is all i have to say.
please note my unburied jetta after this weekend's storm. yes, this photo on display is merely to brag.