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I received a privilege today – from Mother Nature. With all of the ponds and water channels we have for water run off, it’s not unusual to see a turtle crossing a main or side street . Some succumb to a car’s tires. Some make it on themselves, and some get a little help from a pedestrian or driver.
Today was my day. As I swung around the corner about two blocks from my house I spotted a turtle about 12” long that was only about 3’ off the curb on my right side heading to my left. Hit the brakes and flashers. Got out as cars started backing up behind me and one car coming toward me stopped as I lifted and carried it across the street, it’s legs going 240 all the time. “Careful” I thought. “He’s a snapper.”
One more saved – for now.
I got to thinking about that turtle and how our lives are like his. He carries one hell of a burden on those small stubby legs across hot pavement, harms way, rough grass and tall weeds and I’ll bet he never complains but takes it in stride as he heads for water. Once there his weight is balanced by the water and he finally has the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the labors he expended to get there.
Perhaps Mother Nature gave me that privilege today because she knew that lately I’ve been thinking about these forums, their volatility, the public, the pros and cons of what we do for a living and oddly, “harms way” – and our own burdens and labors.
I’ve never heard a parent stating to someone his or her sense of pride that his/her son was a carpenter, painter, remodeler, etc. Doctors, CPAs, attorneys or biochemists we are not.
We solve problems. Other people’s problems. Large ones and small ones. And we do it damn well considering the tremendous odds against us. Yet like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect!
Daily we live in “harms way.” Harms way for physical injury. Harms way for injuries of others, especially kids if we leave a ladder against a wall, a saw plugged in that’s not attended to, the frivolous law suits, miscues in our estimates. Harms way to our psyche from not receiving the respect we should. Harms way from our families because like Dallas stated in another post, ours really is a 24/7 business. We’re almost always thinking about one job or another. And our daily activities bring us unto harms way because we work in, with or for some of the most undesirable people that live. And yet we still get the job done.
No one. No one but another in our shoes can appreciate what we do and contend with daily – not even our wives fully understand. There is lies the purpose of this post. I just wanted you guys to know that that is why I freely open my home to any of you for a vacation to to just take a break. You are not strangers. You are bros – family, and family that at least one guy in Naples, Florida, with all the bitching and difference of opinions, still has the utmost respect for my peers.
Like the turtle, the burden is worth the trip knowing that as AJ says, “near the stream” , there is another one waiting to encourage us on, help when needed or just – understand – and maybe tip a beer together.
I keep a tattered piece of paper in my Day Timer that I cut out years ago. It’ s a statement by Teddy Roosevelt. It’s appropriate, and I quote him:
“The credit belongs to the man, who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
OK, so it was a philosophical day today and I just wanted to get this off my chest. Who else would understand?
Replies
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I received a privilege today - from Mother Nature. With all of the ponds and water channels we have for water run off, its not unusual to see a turtle crossing a main or side street . Some succumb to a cars tires. Some make it on themselves, and some get a little help from a pedestrian or driver.
Today was my day. As I swung around the corner about two blocks from my house I spotted a turtle about 12 long that was only about 3 off the curb on my right side heading to my left. Hit the brakes and flashers. Got out as cars started backing up behind me and one car coming toward me stopped as I lifted and carried it across the street, its legs going 240 all the time. Careful I thought. Hes a snapper.
One more saved - for now.
I got to thinking about that turtle and how our lives are like his. He carries one hell of a burden on those small stubby legs across hot pavement, harms way, rough grass and tall weeds and Ill bet he never complains but takes it in stride as he heads for water. Once there his weight is balanced by the water and he finally has the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the labors he expended to get there.
Perhaps Mother Nature gave me that privilege today because she knew that lately Ive been thinking about these forums, their volatility, the public, the pros and cons of what we do for a living and oddly, harms way - and our own burdens and labors.
Ive never heard a parent stating to someone his or her sense of pride that his/her son was a carpenter, painter, remodeler, etc. Doctors, CPAs, attorneys or biochemists we are not.
We solve problems. Other peoples problems. Large ones and small ones. And we do it damn well considering the tremendous odds against us. Yet like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect!
Daily we live in harms way. Harms way for physical injury. Harms way for injuries of others, especially kids if we leave a ladder against a wall, a saw plugged in thats not attended to, the frivolous law suits, miscues in our estimates. Harms way to our psyche from not receiving the respect we should. Harms way from our families because like Dallas stated in another post, ours really is a 24/7 business. Were almost always thinking about one job or another. And our daily activities bring us unto harms way because we work in, with or for some of the most undesirable people that live. And yet we still get the job done.
No one. No one but another in our shoes can appreciate what we do and contend with daily - not even our wives fully understand. There is lies the purpose of this post. I just wanted you guys to know that that is why I freely open my home to any of you for a vacation to to just take a break. You are not strangers. You are bros - family, and family that at least one guy in Naples, Florida, with all the bitching and difference of opinions, still has the utmost respect for my peers.
Like the turtle, the burden is worth the trip knowing that as AJ says, near the stream , there is another one waiting to encourage us on, help when needed or just - understand - and maybe tip a beer together.
I keep a tattered piece of paper in my Day Timer that I cut out years ago. It s a statement by Teddy Roosevelt. Its appropriate, and I quote him:
The credit belongs to the man, who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
OK, so it was a philosophical day today and I just wanted to get this off my chest. Who else would understand?
be Sonny Lykos for President '08
This is an auspicious day....
First of all, you don't pick up a snapper without losing a finger or two, it has the ability to bite it's own tail.
Secondly, stopping traffic and risking an accident and injury of other motorist for the sake of a turtle that probably crossed there a thousand times already is not the smartest thing you did that day.
Third, any contractor that moves and thinks like a turtle won't be found on any of my sites.
:) Gabe
First of all, you don't pick up a snapper without losing a finger or two, it has the ability to bite it's own tail.Boy, am I glad the hundreds of snappers I caught as a kid didn't know that.SamT
Praise the Corporation, for the Corporations' highest concern is the well being of the public.
They would have to be "Southern" turtles which are not as swift as it's more educated "Northern" cousin, the snapping turtle.
Gabe
ROAR! Now that's funny right there.I hewed the main timbers six inches square, most of the studs on two sides only, and the rafters and floor timbers on one side, leaving the rest of the bark on, so that they were just as straight and much stronger than sawed ones. Each stick was carefully mortised or tenoned by its stump, for I had borrowed other tools by this time.
-Thoreau's Walden
Not sure how this got brought back up, but am damn glad to have gotten a chance to read it.
I had a rough week here work wise and a rough month again marriage wise.
maybe I need a turtle to cross my path.
The bad news is you've done exactly the right things to be exactly where you are today.
"IdahoDon 1/31/07"
Snapping turtle rescue...not for the faint of heart. They remind me of dinosaurs, fascinating creatures. I use two shovels like giant salad tongs to carry them across the street when I encounter them.
Nice post.
Your words and T.R.'s are both inspirational. It is a unique comraderie that we have with the battle weary here.
Back to T.R., I wonder how many people out enjoying the National Parks and Forests this weekend realize that he was behind creating both National Forests and Yellowstone (the worlds first National Park).
Enjoy the weekend brother.
Brian
Good job, Sonny.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match