40-Footer

There’s not a whole lot to be excited about when the temperatures are low and Christmas bells are ringing.

During this time of the year most of the people you chat up on the jobs are elsewhere, mind-wise.

But the thing about life is it goes on.

I still had to make my visits.

My first gig was a bit of a drive away, and I talked myself into the walk-around knowing there was a scaffold stair climb to a high roof.

The scaffold stair was gone.

Replaced by a 40-feet ladder.

“Bah!”

I eyed the ladder from the parking lot. 

Checked the time.

“Just the thing a 60-year old man needs at 8:03 AM. A 40-feet climb with 28 degrees showing on the thermometer.”

I find that the best way of handling such a task is going straight at it, and don’t look down.

I got to the roof deck and the foreman laughed.

“You’re a safety dude,” he said. “Can’t you sit in a warm office and pretend that you’re working on a program?”

I laughed.

He’s very perceptive. A lot of safety dudes definitely try that.

“Just messing with you,,” he said. “I know you’re as dumb as all the rest of us.”

It was cold and there was a bitter wind blowing across the slippery deck.

I made sure I said ‘Merry Christmas’ to the crew…

…whole bunch of guys and a couple of gals who were freezing, but were doing a lot of work.

The trip down a 40-footer is even worse as one has to turn around and get on it.

They’re also very shaky as well.

When my feet were once more firmly planted on the ground, I was suddenly very much awake.

Not sure the point of this entire blog…

…but when one climbs a 40-footer first thing in the morning…

…there’s a need to tell everyone about it.