Hello everyone on this fairly mild December day!  Even the sun is trying to come out and add some brightness to the day.  But for some reason it feels cold today, and I’m not the only one that feels that way.  It’s kind of a cold that eats right into a person.  But it is winter.  Have to expect that kind of weather.  Just seems odd having such cold weather when there isn’t much snow out there.  We are supposed to get into some rather cold weather starting on the weekend.  Not good when there isn’t that thick layer of snow to add protection to buried water pipes.

It’s a good time to dream of warmer days. Just close my eyes. The sun is shining. Just a slight chill to the morning air. But that will quickly change as the sun rises higher, getting above the trees. The fall colors are just beautiful right now, and the leaves which have already fallen crunch under foot as dad and I walk through the trees to the railway tracks. Another fantastic day to hunt for insulators, says dad.  Great day to dig for bottles, I said.  Why waste such a nice day doing that, says dad.  Sigh.  Anyway, we have permission to remove insulators from the bottom cross arms which are no longer in use and will be removed shortly.

We get to the area where we left off last week. Should be some easy picking up ahead as the poles are short on a nearby hill. Hmm. Still just a little out of reach however. Dad comes up with an idea. He will get down on his hands and knees and I can stand on his back. Hmm.  Not so sure about this.  But dad is willing.  Amazingly.  So up I go.  Not bad. Just perfect.  I take off two.  Stop wiggling says dad.  I’m not wiggling, you are, I say.  Have to move over.  We did.  Another two.  Finally get to the last one.  I try to reach over rather than move again.  Got it.  But I lose my balance a bit and grab the cross arm.  And step on dad’s head.  Well, okay, I sort of kicked his head.  And knocked his glasses off.  My glasses he yells!  And moves.  Bad idea.  That’s it.  I fall.  And drop the insulator.

Fortunately I land on my backpack.  A bit softer than the rock.  Dad is on his knees.  Holding his head.  And moaning.  Hmm.  Must have hit his head again.  He is always doing that.  What happened?  BONEHEAD!  Can’t imagine why he would be enjoying this.  Seems the insulator landed on his head.  See, I said, you should always wear your hard hat when we are out like this.  I should always wear it when I am anywhere near you, he said.  Can’t imagine why.  I’ll get your glasses, I said.  NO, stay back, he yelled.  He got them.  We continued along the hill after dad rested a bit.

It’s amazing really.  He was an accident magnet.  Always getting hurt.  Or wet.  Nice and dry along here though so no chance of that happening.  Next couple of poles were easy.  No problems.  Then a pole that was a bit higher.  I got up on dad’s shoulders.  It was a bit shaky.  I lifted my foot as I tried to reach one insulator.  Dad tried to grab my foot.  He missed.  His hand went on his shoulder.  I put my foot down right at that moment.  Not my fault his hand was there.  A rather loud scream from dad.  What’s wrong?  My hand!  Stop shaking my foot, I said.

That’s when he lost his balance.  And I tried not to fall.  And I stepped on his head again.  Off went his glasses again.  Considering all the times he dropped those glasses, it’s amazing they never broke.  Poor dad, he not only had a sore head, but now a sore neck too.  I still don’t know why he wanted to look for insulators all the time, he was always getting hurt.  Better stop here and continue next time.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.