shovel that berm.

well, it's the holidays. so of course, that all-too-familiar phrase hangs in the air as sure as the pine and cinnamon itself:

"will you go shovel that berm?"

am i the only one who has no idea what a berm is?

there is apparently a berm (pile of snow, i later learned) in front of my parents' mailbox which prohibits the mail carrier from delivering their pre-approved credit card offers and doctor appointment reminder cards.

me: i've never heard of a berm.
dad: but you've heard of the burmese. right?
me: (pause)

this i guess is just one more snow vocab word i don't know because i grew up in lewiston idaho where it rarely snows, and since then i have lived in a series condos that each have a moderately effective hoa. i haven't had to deal with berms or...any of that other stuff. i live a sheltered life. i had no idea of the damage a berm can inflict on your daily life or how important it is to shovel it asap.

i sure have learned a lot this christmas.