Behind the Times

The leaves are gone and a chill is in the mountain air. And, prior to yesterday, I had not cut a stick of firewood. Time to sharpen the chain on the saw and hit the woods.


I had waited this long to give my hand a chance to fully heal. And, while I had use the chainsaw briefly a few times before, I had not given it a real test. So, off I went with the saw, garden tractor, and trailer.

Bam! I'm barely in the woods before a hit the end of a log with the left front wheel of the tractor. This, of course, jerks the steering wheel violently. My left hand, with which I am steering, felt like I had hit the log with it. But, after the initial shock and pain, I discovered that the hand worked much better. The impact had broken lose any number of ligament and tendon adhesions that physical therapy had failed to move. I had been wondering what folks did before PT. Now I know.

Giving my hand the benefit of the doubt, I cut a modest amount of wood. This morning it is fine, no worse for the wear.