Just do it

   After Hurricane Zeta hit us with full force, we had more work than we could shake a stick at.  It was overwhelming especially since I was still recovering from the stroke and heart problems.  I was told to "take it easy", "do not overwork" and "let others help".  Well, that is all fine and dandy except, there was no time to take it easy and was virtually impossible not to overwork.  That part about "let others help"...well, no one did.  Son and I had to do it.  We struggled and are still neck deep in debris and repairs.  We will get there.  Today, however, was spent more in helping others.  Why?  Because that is what we do.  Bayou people help others. It is the neighborly thing to do.

  Several large trees were downed on my brother's place.  He is not in the physical condition to clean up the mess so, since Mark was home, he decided to cut the downed trees.  We would just clean up the place.  No problems.  Mark cut the huge tree and Son split the logs with the axe.  I tried to help load the smaller ones but, once again, am under orders not to do much.  While cutting, Mark had the idea that my other brother could use some of the firewood.  So...he cut, Son split and loaded wood for that brother.  After several hours, the place was cleared, the firewood was all cut, loaded, hauled and stacked and we were exhausted, yet again.  

 Folks, while we are an independent sort and will get our work done without the "let others help" crew that never shows, there are those who occasionally need a helping hand.  They do not ask.  They, too, try to fend for themselves.  This is where kindness and generosity come into play.  Just do it.  Do not wait to be asked.  Just do it.  Do not expect anything in return.  Just do it.

"Hit It With A Hammer!"

  I have always said that I have far more critter friends than I do people friends.  This is by choice as I find the critters far more amiable than most folks.  Even wild critters seem to appreciate all you do for them and are willing to just be friends without asking for a thing in return.  With the recent holiday season behind us, I find that, more than ever, folks are irritating, to say the least.  No matter how much you do for some folks, they always want more.  They take until you are just bone dry and then come back to rattle those bones.  It is times like this that I feel that I could fully do without ever seeing anyone.  That is one of the main reasons that I rarely leave the Bayou.  This is my peace.  Whenever I get a bit unnerved, I seek the solace that only the water can bring.

  There is a young man that has been visiting the Bayou since he was just a wee lad.  He spent many a days (and nights) here as a youngster and has sort of come to be an "adopted" son.   Chris is a good natured sort who is always ready to give a helping hand when needed..which is not something I can say about a lot of folks that come here.  I thought about Chris, today, and one of his bits of "advice".  Whenever something is rattling those old bones of mine, he simply advises "Hit it with a hammer!"  I have never tried it before but I have to admit that it sounded pretty enticing today.  I truly considered that smacking a few folks with that hammer might knock a bit of sense in their heads.  So, short of doing something that was totally out of character and that might just cause me to wind up in jail, I hunted for another means of "beating the tar" out of something.  

  I picked up the axe and started whacking at the pile of wood that needed splitting.  While I used to be quite adept at splitting a load of firewood without taking a breather, age is catching up with me.  As good as it felt to release a bit of stress by smacking that axe down on the logs, I did not really make that much progress.  The pile did not get a lot smaller although the stress level sure did.  After about forty minutes of swinging that axe, I only had enough firewood for the day. Only nine logs were split and I was exhausted!  The axe went back to the shed, the firewood was toted inside to the fire bin and I collapsed in the old rocking chair.  

  Yep, hitting it with a hammer is good advice.  Smacking it with an axe wears you out but it did have a good final effect.  Instead of sitting and brooding about the situation at hand, I worked it out of my system and got enough firewood to warm myself for a bit.  Thanks, Chris.  You are pretty wise for such a young man.  Tomorrow, however, will find me sore from this new exercise, I am sure!