Midweek Coffee Chat. #30

Good morning everyone! It is mild again this morning and snowing lightly, we have about an inch of new snow on the ground. But that big snowstorm they had forecast for us is going to mainly miss us now, so instead of getting 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25cm) of snow, it will only be about 3 inches (7.5cm). That is not so bad. The birds are quite busy this morning, even the blue jays arrived earlier than they have been lately. I made a little mistake in my story yesterday about Dad and I.

I did not grab the crossarm, but the little tree that I had been reaching for. We were trying to climb the hill at the time, or at least I was trying to climb the hill. So, let us return to the story now… I handed his hat to him and he put it on. He yelled again. “You should shake the snow out of it first,” I said. “I should have left you at home,” he said. “I agree, that is what I said before,” I reminded him.

“Where are my glasses?” he asked. “Did you lose those again?” I asked, “you are always losing your glasses.” Dad just sighed very loudly. I found them almost completely buried in the snow. “Here you are,” I said, handing them to Dad. He grabbed them too quickly before I had a chance to let go. There was a loud snap. “They broke,” I said. Dad sighed even louder and shook his head. “You really should be more careful,” I told him. Dad sighed again.

“Guess we need to go back home,” I said smiling. Dad had other thoughts. “We came to get insulators and we do not leave until we get some,” he said. Now it was my turn to sigh. “Even if I get up the hill,” I said, “how will you get up?” “I will stay down here,” he said. “How will I reach the crossarms then?” I asked. Dad thought for a moment. “We need a better way up that hill,” he said. We walked around through the trees and finally found an easy way up the hill.

“That is easy?” asked Dad. “Better than that other way,” I said. Dad sighed again. He did that a lot when we were together. But it really was not so bad climbing the hill this new way. Dad spotted an even easier way and went over there. I watched. Dad was doing well, until, he yelled as he disappeared into a hole. I went over to look. “You fell in a hole,” I said. Dad just looked at me and sighed. “Help me get out,” he said. “How, you are too big for me to lift you out,” I said. Dad sighed again.

“I will bring that branch over and put it across the hole,” I said, “you can use it to pull yourself out.” I went over to get it. It was actually a small tree, about 4 inches in diameter, and solid. I put it across the hole. “My feet are stuck,” said Dad. “Take your boots off,” I said, “we can get them afterward.” Dad did not like that idea, but after several tries to get out, unsuccessfully, he gave in and took his boots off. That helped and he was able to get out, with some help from me.

I held onto a tree and Dad grabbed my legs to continue pulling himself out. “You are pulling my boot off,” I yelled, and moved my foot. Dad yelled too, louder. He claimed I kicked him in the chin. I barely moved my foot. Dad liked to exaggerate a bit. Finally Dad was sitting in the snow, with bare feet. “Why did you take your socks off?” I asked. “I didn’t,” he said, “they just stayed in the boots.” He told me to get his boots. Naturally. He yelled again.

He said I knocked snow off a branch and the snow landed on his bare feet. I never touched the branch. I got the boots out and tossed them to Dad. One apparently hit him on the head while he was putting the other one on. “Guess we should go back now,” I said. “No, we need to look for insulators first,” said Dad. “But it has started to snow,” I said. “Just a flurry,” said Dad, “no problem.” I sighed. Guess I will have to finish this tomorrow. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2022 Steve McLeod.