Do you know how cold it is when you are digging a ditch to fix a water line in February? Let me tell you, it is cold as the dickens!
If I were a grouchy, hateful old man, I wouldn't be in the fixes I always end up in! I ain't, so I do.
My friend in the county south of here has a couple of rent houses and he helps out the renters often. He only deals with older folks, mostly widows, and his monthly take is minimal. Therefore, I am more than appreciative of him.
He was smarter than some of us when the big box store giant was a new outfit and bought a shoe box full of shares, so he is flush while the rest of us old cattlemen still are popping brush. All this said so I can explain further how I got in this fix!
Don, my friend, hauled his backhoe up to our neighborhood to dig a gas line for a feller. He left the rig here due to the fact he had to make it back to his home for a family deal, and it was OK to just park it and go. Now, because I have a flatbed trailer and he needs his backhoe, I am destined to load it up and go.
I got to his rent house early and he was there to help me unload and get turned around to start home. I stopped and got out to visit a minute and it only took a minute for him to suggest I help with just a couple of things, like guiding him into place and getting started.
Of course, I was glad to help. And then, I grabbed a shovel and helped scoop out the loose dirt, and then it just went to heck in a hand cart! I spent the next four and one half hours in below-freezing temps with mud oozing around myself and getting a pretty good pair of everyday boots pretty wet.
I have heard that you start thinking you are warm just before death, and so I was sure enough glad I stayed cold, I guess! I do not think I have ever been colder than I was, maybe just because it happened recently, but I was cold. I am thankful I decided on raising beef instead of being a well driller or plumber, as I realize I am a dad-gummed sissy when it comes to cold!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, I sure do like to help a feller out when needed. I believe we need to be of service at a moment's notice to our friends and neighbors and show that brotherly love to all.
I am not demeaning that at all, I am advising. The advice I am offering is to always leave home with heavy coats and rubber boots if you are going anywhere with a backhoe loaded. Take leather gloves that are lined and a big old handkerchief to wipe your nose because the cold does cause that to happen!
I did enjoy the steak dinner bought and paid for by my friend, and the heater in my old truck sure felt good coming home!
Bill is the pen name of the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 02/11/2015