Yesterday we had what I would have to say was the worst weather we have had in a decade — rain, wind and lots of leaves blowing everywhere.
I remember when my brother-in-law and I would head into the woods with our saws and splitting mauls and gas and oil to cut firewood on days like yesterday. We always took a thermos of coffee, and if the trees we liked were deemed to fall in the wrong direction we would scout till we found one that would fall with the wind. Much safer that way, both for ourselves and the truck.
When the rain would hit and fall heavy, we would retreat to the truck and hit the thermos. Once the rain died off, then we were like the Seven Dwarves — or maybe two of the dwarves, and back to work we would go.
But the rain and direction of the falling tree weren’t the only thing we dealt with. There was also the mud underfoot that was dangerous. One wrong step and you either fell or slid into the way of a fast-moving saw chain. The modern-day saws usually crank out about 10,000 rpms, plus depending on the size of the saw. One mustn’t discount the older and smaller saws, which turned slower but with more torque. The cuts were just as nasty.
When we split the wood, if he was sawing and I was splitting, I would set up eight or 10 blocks behind him and start splitting the wood. He did the same if I were sawing. The reason for the space between us was so that if there happened to be a pocket of water under the block being split, when we hit it with the maul, the water wouldn’t shoot out and get the other fella in the face. And, if the guy splitting lost his footing he wouldn’t hit the saw operator with the maul or take a chance of kicking his feet out from under him with a live saw in his hands.
Even with the rain and wind and all the safety measures we used, we could still leave the woods with roughly a cord and a half to two cords of wood, all split and ready to stack.
Yesterday I opened my window next to my chair a crack and the thing that triggered the memory was the smell of the air. It smelled clean and fresh and still had the aroma of the woods from behind my house. The woods has a special smell to it in fall time, and the rain enhances that smell.
My brother in law died a few years ago, but the smell of the wet, clean woods brought back the memory and allowed me to Remember When …
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
