I love shoveling snow. 

There. I said it. I can't hide it any longer.

I get a great sense of satisfaction and pride in keeping our walkways, stairs and driveways snow-free. I would even say, there’s joy in this job well done. 

When it snows, like it did Wednesday night, I look forward to waking up, putting on boots, snowpants, gloves, cap and jacket and heading outside. The colder the better. If snow is still falling, even better yet.

With so little snow last year and again this year, it’s been disappointing. My collection of snow shovels has gone largely unused. So, Thursday, with a few inches of snow covering our Coeur d'Alene home, I rose at 6:15 and rushed eagerly into the fray, like a warrior called into battle, with my weapons a shovel, a broom and a cup of coffee.

I have a system. First, the front porch, the stairs, the walkway. That's the easy part. 

Then, I go out back, where the real work begins. 

Clear the deck. 

The long stairway is next. 

Move on to the walkway.

Then the patio.

There is more. 

The driveway awaits. If I’m not careful, it can be a backbreaker. Got to use my legs. This involves a lot of back and forth, pushing snow from one side to the other, tossing shovelfuls into a mini-mountain next to the garage. 

I’m not done. 

The alley remains. 

As our cars are older, smaller, front-wheel drive models, they tend to get stuck in deep and even not-so-deep snow. To be sure they don’t, I clear the alley all the way to the street, some 40 yards or so. This leaves me winded. Heavy, wet snow can make this a brutal task, and I'll work up a sweat. Light, fluffy snow is almost too easy. There is no challenge.

Since I’m paranoid about having snow on my roof, I clear it if it gets to be more than a half foot. The roof is simple to access with a ladder from my back deck. I stay away from the edge so I don’t slide off because it’s a long fall to the backyard. I can say with confidence I’m the first person to shovel their roof, and even that of the garage, each winter. 

In case you were wondering, yes, I have a small, electric snowblower, which I have used a few times. But it feels like I’m depriving myself of a seasonal gift, which is just part of North Idaho life. So, the snowblower, sad and silent, sits unused in the garage. 

I suppose there will come a day when I won’t have the strength or the will to shovel snow, but for now, I'm thankful.

Perhaps I will even be a snowbird and spend winters in Sun City, Ariz. 

I don't think I would fit in.

People would wonder about the old guy wandering around with a snow shovel.

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Bill Buley is managing editor of The Press. He can be reached at [email protected].