Reflection and gratitude redeem hard-edged
days, return me to a snow-framed day.
I was still living in the dungeon on Fitch–
the middle-aged man screaming at his
elderly parents in the house above me.
Driving home from work at the ResCen
my Lynx slid into snowbank, stuck fast.
Four men materialized, heaved my car
(me in it) onto roadway and traction. I made
it home, wanting to thank them–somehow.
Andrew Shattuck McBride
“Somehow” was my August 2, 2012 poem for the postcard poetry project. I used a contemporary card of Mount Shuksan, Washington–subtitled “Paddling across Mount Shuksan’s reflection.” I mailed it to Tatiana in New Haven, Connecticut.
**
Curious, how “paddling across… reflection” and the recipient’s address in New Haven led me back to an event that happened in 1989 while I was living in that city. That’s some 23 years ago. I remain grateful to those four men helping me that day; blessings to them.
Blessings to Tatiana and all, Andy
Andrew Shattuck McBride, Writer's Blog 
It’s amazing how help “somehow” just appears. I’m so glad it did for you, on that “snow-framed day”!
All this makes we wonder if your putting this story out there in this poem will allow your gratitude to reach, eventually, one of those four men.
Me, too.
Absolutely. I was grateful and then they were gone, immediately. The four young African American men–just younger than me–were likely students at Southern Connecticut State University, nearby.
I know people stop to help others continuously; it’s what we do.
Still… I remain grateful, always.
Jennifer, thank you for everything. Blessings, Andy