I share this story to bring awareness to increasingly dangerous conditions with heavy snow creating hidden slush pockets on Northern Minnesota lakes. I also find myself saddened to what seems to be an accepted self serving society we are living within. Hey don’t get me wrong I like to take care of my family to and look out for our personal well being. Still is it truly astonishing when someone actually goes out of his or her way to help another in need in today’s world?
Case in point; Today one of our labs was barking on our deck, and I noticed a sled in the back of Tilson Creek. This was about 200-300 yards off Hwy 11. I saw from my house that a guy seemed to be stuck in the slush and trying to dig his sled out. His dog was laying in the snow about 50 yards away. I told my daughter who was home from college that we are heading out into the slush and to gear up!!
We walked through I’d guess 300 yards or so of mid-thigh slush before arriving to an elderly man and his dog. The man was iced up and his dog was shivering cold. He looked at me as though I was “Peter” walking through the slush to lend a helping hand. With smiles on our faces and strong backs his look of disbelief is the very reason I share this story.
I honestly believe this fella didn’t believe another person in this society would willingly “slush walk” to help him and his dog. Thats sad. There were many…….MANY vehicles that drove right over the bridge and never bothered to stop and see if he was ok. NOT ONE person.
As it turns out the man appeared to be around 70 and his dog kept jumping on his half sunk sled to try keep from freezing his paws. If you’ve ever been in this prediciment you know it is a two man job. In this case we had 3 people. My daughter, myself and this thankful man!!
We managed to get his sled out of the slush and built a ice platform in which we were able to then spin out his track. He’ll be able to get out there tomorrow to bring his sled back home……Where it belongs.
Are we living in a society where lending a helping hand to another in need should be rewarded? I urge people to step up beyond generally accepted society behavior. You may be the guy in need some day.
As we walked off the ice the man was visibly exhausted. He told me to go ahead and I said Nah….I’m tired too. I stayed back with him as he worked his way to shore. He proceeded to talk with a sense of excitement in his voice about his 1 year old German Shepard. I took interest in his dog and told him he is beautiful and has a wonderful demeanor. He smiled and told me of his training and exercise program he has him on. He told me how he doesn’t feed him table scraps……
As we got to our trucks he had a tear in his eye and took off his frozen glove to shake my hand. I followed his lead and took off my iced glove to shake his skin to skin…….Man to man. He insisted that my daughter and I come over to his house so he could make us a dinner to thank us for our generosity. I said he surely didn’t need to do that and we enjoyed the exercise. Still he went on to tell us that he missed the conversation….
As Lindsey and I jumped in the truck Lindsey looked at me and said…….We’re going RIGHT!?! I said it sounds like he might have lost his wife or something huh? She said that is sad. I said you know what is sad Lindsey. NOT ONE person took the time to see if that guy needed a helping hand. That is sad.
I’m happy to report he and his dog are safe and sound. His sled is fine and will come off the ice tomorrow. For those of you that hold the attitude of “Got himself into trouble….He’ll get himself out” I hope you don’t need a hand someday.
Keep this in mind as I close this story. You seldom know the whole story. This guy was out retrieving some Tamarack for his wood stove. He told me it burns HOT and he likes to burn it. I presume he lives alone with his dog. The sled might not be important to you or me, but that old sled might have been a pretty invaluable piece of equipment to that man.
Please be safe out there guys and don’t pass up the chance to help someone in need. By the way the fella called me this evening and thanked me a hundred times. I told him I was taking pictures to help others avoid a similiar experience. He then……INVITED me to go out there with him tomorrow to get the rest of the story!! LOL!! I of course accepted his generous offer and told him I’d love too. 
