FROM MY LINE ABOUT WHEN I WAS A "BOY CARPENTER BUILDING WITH BIG DREAMS, ALMOST A VILLA, AND NEVER THINKING OF THE OLD GUY (ME) DOWN THE ROAD " HAS MY GOOD FRIEND ED IN MICHIGAN ASK ME IN VERMONT ~
"2 FEET OF SNOW 8 HOURS OF SHOVELING DO YOU HAVE A ROOF RAKE?"
HI ED ~
BOY CARPENTER/OLD MAN IDEA I ACTUALLY HAVE THOUGHT OUT IN MY BOOK SUNSWUMTHRU A BUILDING, WHERE I WAS FOOLISH ENOUGH AT AGE 50 (STILL OBVIOUSLY A DREAMER) TO REBUILD OUR BACK NORTH ROOF INTO A LITERAL FOOTBALL FIELD SIZE APRON SHED ROOF AND INSTEAD OF GIVING MYSELF THE LIFE SAVING STEEPER PITCH FOR SNOW SHEDDING, I SET IN EYEBROW WINDOWS TO PROVIDE NATURAL LIGHT FOR THE ROOM, AND NOW I SHOVEL THE ROOF AFTER A GOOD TWO FEET OF SNOW. IT'LL BE MURDER IN A FEW MORE YEARS. I'LL NEED TO HIRE A HELPER, A WILD ANIMAL, A SLAVE LIKE MYSELF. COME AND VISIT, BRING YOUR SHOVEL.
YOU ASK, "DO YOU HAVE A ROOF RAKE?"
ED, DOES A MICHIGAN BEAR SHIT IN THE WOODS?
I HAVE 3 ROOF RAKES. BUILT MY FIRST 40 YEARS AGO FOR MY CABIN IN THE WOODS AND THEN THE ALUMINUM MODELS CAME ON THE MARKET. BOUGHT ONE, TOLD A FRIEND IN THE WOODS TO BUY ONE, HE DID. THEN HE MOVED AWAY AND LEFT THE RAKE BEHIND. I GOT THAT. FOUND ONE OTHER, I'M BETTING AT A TAG SALE. ON SATURDAY IT WILL BE IN MY HANDS MOST OF THE DAY. I CLEARED 4 ROOFS YESTERDAY WITH MY FIRST ROOF RAKE, DUCT-TAPE ON IT AND ALL.
(THE FOOL HAS 2 OTHERS, WHY IS HE USING THE DUCT-TAPED ONE?)
WRONG QUESTION ~ IT'S BOP 'TIL YOU DROP.
WE BROKE TRAIL THROUGH THE WOODLOT TODAY ON SNOWSHOES. BROUGHT HOME MAPLE AND BEECH LOGS FROM THE CORD STASHED UP THERE. EVERY DAY WE CARRY BACK TWO MORE LOGS. BY APRIL THE PILE SHOULD BE HOME (AND BURNED).
ALL'S WELL!
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love.
Reinhold Niebuhr
map image: squidoo
