DAY 284
01.13.08
TREE 115
Last night, after climbing and picking up photo equipment from MaryLiz, Norman called me. He has never called to ask to just hang out so when he did I was pleasantly surprised. I ate some food at J-Gumbo’s on Baxter (WARNING: Side Story) and while walking back to my truck a cop car slowly rolled by, stopped, and rolled down the window. One of the officers asked, "have you seen a large black man in a blue jean jacket with a bald head carrying an axe handle?" Taken aback, I say, "No." Then they ask, "you sure?" First, how would I not be sure of that, and second, is this how their search should be conducted? By freaking pedestrians out. Especially ones walking alone down a dark street. I walked on to my truck at a quick pace and locked the door as soon as I got in.
Anyway, I picked up some music from John’s then went to Norman’s. We got in the sauna and jumped in the lake. It was so cold I got a little dizzy for a while. Then we watched Death Proof. We slept, got up, Jennifer made crepes, and then we went to work in Norman’s house.
It was a damn cold, grey day with a few scattered snow flurries.
The wind was pretty unbearable. But after doing some window trim I had to climb.
So I walked out behind the pole barn and looked up at my poplar. There was no ribbon waiting since I forgot the first time I climbed it, but there was a notch carved out of the bark.
I began my climb and almost immediately my hands started to sting with cold. It was a debate whether to stop and warm them as I climbed or just hope they go numb so the pain would stop. I chose the former. I made it up 20 or 30 feet and stuck my hands in the pockets of Norm’s jacket he let me borrow. The bark was all wet and cold. I climbed up another 20 feet or so and paused again.
Then I finally pushed it to my previous high point and gazed around the foggy, grey, dark, day. The tulip-like seed pods of the tree remained on the ends of the limbs towards the top of the tree.
It made it all seem beautiful, and the thoughts of cold vanished. Excited about the climb, the view, the new experience, I got out my camera and took pictures.
Then after putting it away I warmed my hands as I watched Jennifer return to the house and talk to Norman down on the driveway.
Jennifer never saw me but Norman waved. I felt bad because I was getting mucky, green smears on his coat. I pumped myself up for the climb down and then went for it. I didn’t stop to warm up so by the end my hands were in real pain. I broke the lowest limb and dropped to the ground. It was not surprising and I landed on my feet. I half expected it to break under me. Then I went back in the house and just stood over the space heater for ten minutes. Back to work, then after we had good food. I always enjoy our visits and my climbs, no matter the weather.
1-13-09: I don’t feel good about my decision to carve a notch in the bark, but what’s done is done and the tree still looks healthy. Also, if you don’t know Norman, he’s a good friend of mine who’s got an amazing house that he has converted from an old water pump house for the reservoir.
I speak of him often as we hang out and work together a lot. Without him I wouldn’t be able to live without a regular job as I have been since February of 2008. Cheers to Norm.
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YAY! I am caught up. Now just don’t let me get behind again. That took for ever! That means I can finally say that YESTERDAY I biked to Drew’s office down on West Main Street. Then we picked up MaryLiz and drove to Richo’s for pizza and beer and the UofL basketball game. MaryLiz and I talked as Drew very intently watched the game. Which looked like it was a good one. Then we drove back and I chose to get my bike so I could climb and then go home. I went down to the River Walk Trail
and went straight to this tree just off to the river side of it.
It is the tree whose roots have created a large bump in the blacktop. I hid my bike in the nearby bushes and sized up my entry. It had one knot that I could jump to then as I held with my right hand I reached with my left for the closest branch. It was a struggle and I thought at any second my grip would slip and I’d be on the ground, but I made it. from there it was an easy and short climb to the top.
Even though one of the branches I was on was completely broken off,
it was still very strong. I had a great view of I-64,
and waterfront,
the river,
and the bridges.
I shot pictures like crazy taking many since so many kept turning out blurry do to me movement. Then when I was done, I climbed back down in snap. I hopped on my bike ready to go home and in the first few feet hit that bump in the blacktop and popped my front tire. I didn’t even think twice or get mad. I just slung my bike over my right shoulder and pulled out my cell phone. I figured this walk is going to suck so I might as well accept and see if I can pass the time and talk to someone. I ended up getting a hold of Aaryn Munson and talked to her most of the way home. It was about a mile and half to two miles I think. And my conversation made it fly by. Thank god I have a spare ready to switch out. Fun fun.