We Are The World, Snowed In

We are so busy; life is so fast. We are bombarded with notions, concepts and good ideas without the opportunity of ever fully participating in them. Idealism seems a luxury. Remarkably, I have recently felt a part of the society around me; I have participated, joined, shared and been part of an uplifting redistribution of talent, effort and wealth.
Big storms change people. They make the world smaller. Perhaps it is the demonstration of Nature's power that subdues us, chastens us, rubs our sharp edges smooth. Perhaps storms homogenizes us before the same powerful and leveling force. Perhaps it is nothing more than the paralysis the community suffers, the negation of the automobile and the limiting of transportation. A big storm simplifies us, reduces us to basics. Everyone on the street is polite and helpful, despite the cold and inconvenience. Everyone goes out of his way. People pitch in to clean walks and shovel cars out of their snow traps. On our street it was multinational with me, a German and an Asian working on our cars, the street, the walks, other cars. It was a communal experience, all selfless and constructive towards the general, unseen welfare.
Later someone stole my shovel.