03/08/2024
Those couple seconds
Watch any tree guy walk up to a tree with the intent of putting it on the ground. Notice those couple seconds they take right before making the first cut on their notch. During those couple seconds more is taking place than you can possibly imagine. A wealth of knowledge is being acessed like a mental rolodex. Some of it is from books and some from word of mouth but most from getting out there everyday and living it. Knowledge passed down from long before you or I was born. They calculate the angle of the notch. They take into consideration the amount of lean and what direction. He calculates where the majority of the weight lays in the tree. They estimate the height of the tree and look for other trees limbs or widow makers that could snag break or knock loose and injure or kill one of his brothers. All this without a calculator or pen and paper only in their head all in those couple seconds. This isn't the only thing Happening in those critical couple seconds. Those of us who cut trees know that tomorrow isn't a given. With the potential to be crushed by unimaginable weight, the chance of being electrocuted by enough electricity to light a city, or fall from unspeakable heights the tree guys know all too well this tree could be their last. So in those couple seconds they also think of home. They think about that text in their pocket they didn't answer yet from their sweetheart asking what they'd like for dinner. They think about their little ones at home and how excited they'll be when he pulls into the driveway and walks to the door and how all of that is why they are out here cutting this tree in the first place. To put food on the plates and shoes on the feet. They think about the love letter tucked away in their dinner bucket. One written on old paper because they wrote it so long ago in case the unspeakable happens and how he hopes she will never get that letter. They think about how that morning played out and wonders if they remembered to tell their better half they loved them. They wonder if they tucked in the little ones tight enough. All of this takes place in those couple seconds.
