Snow and Steady

I remember hearing a story about two philosophy professors at a New England college.

The men were bitter rivals and one winter day they came walking toward each other down a very narrow path in the snow.

One professor, who was burly and quite aggressive, angrily declared, “I never step aside for fools!”

The other professor, a much smaller fellow, quickly moved out of his way.

“I always do,” he cheerfully replied.

A week after the blizzard that slammed into New York, snow is still a large part of the conversation around these parts.

We have long since moved away from the picturesque phase of snowfall and right to the yuk portion of the storm, where the snow is dirty, marked by dogs, stray cats and God knows what else, and very much in the way.

And it’s cold as hell, too, and, like the snow, it’s still sticking around; day after day, we’re getting hammered with single digit temperatures.

We’re supposed to reach a high of 30 degrees tomorrow, and I feel like breaking out my beach chair and the Coppertone.

Navigating through this mess is challenging but thank God I do have my new boots.

On Wednesday morning I was heading to my supermarket for senior shopping day when I saw a woman with a shopping bag struggling to get through the snow that had piled up around the corner.

I was only a Boy Scout for a brief time, but I recalled the old adage about helping little old ladies across the street, so I approached her to offer my assistance. And she was most appreciative.

“There aren't many men like you,” she said, taking my arm.

I learned that her name was Virginia and that was in fact a year younger than I am. Nevertheless, she needed a hand, and I was happy to step up.

Things were going well, despite the rough terrain, and I really felt good about coming to her aid. And then it all went south.

Everybody Plays the Fool

She told me she was retired and I told her I was holding out until next year when I turn 70-(ye gods)-and receive the maximum Social Security benefit.

“Oh, Social Security is going to be gone,” she railed. “All the illegal immigrants are going to take it.”

Virginia went on to bitch and moan about Joe Biden and praise people I truly hate, like Donald Trump and Rudy Guiliani. And my good deed started to like a bad idea.

Why do people always jump to politics? And why the hell do you assume that I would automatically agree you?

I’m so old I remember when people said you should never discuss politics and religion. Now they’re at the top of the list.

I noticed that she had an accent, and she told me she had moved here from Greece when she was a child. I wonder if she had ever been on the wrong end of bigotry and outrageous accusations.

I’m quite angry with myself for not telling her that she was wrong. The only one gunning for Social Security is that orange scumbag in the White House.

Republicans have had a hard-on for Social Security ever since FDR signed it into law, as they’re so anxious to give tax breaks to the top one percent.

I should have said, no Virigina, you’re spewing hateful horeshit instead of using your brain. But I still have a people-pleasing streak that looks to keep things calm.

This woman was a bigot, and nothing would have changed that narrow mind of hers, and perhaps it's best that I stepped aside for this fool, so to speak.

I'm just tired of being the one who has to show restraint and be civil.

We parted company at the corner on Third Avenue and I went back to my shopping routine. I’m sorry our brief encounter detoured into Klan country but that wasn’t my doing.

I joked with my auntie later that I should have pushed Virginia into a snow drift, but then that would’ve made me like Trump.

I’m still glad that I helped her and I would do it again without hesitation.

Only this time I’d do all the talking.