November 4, 2009 8:39 PM
Tripp and sons take down a tree
The Curtis men have been involved for several weeks in taking down a dead tree in our back yard. It was very dangerous - in a state where trees seem to have a knack for falling over and killing people (there've been five or six deaths since we moved here, including our beloved Father Kelly). The landlord's answer was to hang a sign on it that said it was dangerous. Lot of good that does us when we have kids who can't read :)
So my big strong husband - recently back on his feet after a year of recovering from a s series of knee operations complicated by MRSA - decided to take matters into his own hands.
Those of you who met me only in the past five years since I began blogging may not know that Tripp is an arborist. Before we moved to Virginia, we built a very successful Local-Boy-Makes-Good business - a tree company we named Mr. Trees - starting out with nothing and eventually providing work (and health benefits) for 25 employees.
When we moved to Virginia (after selling our home and business), Tripp decided he wanted to try something new - real estate - which began a downward financial spiral for us. In retrospect it seems clear that he missed his calling and we often sighed and wished he had taken our nest egg and started a new tree company out here since it was something he was good at - and loved more than he realized.
But starting a tree company takes money as there is a lot of expensive equipment and insurance involved. And we have no money for that anymore. Tripp is driving a school bus - I think I told you that - and we are enjoying kind of a golden age in our marriage as the stress is gone of trying to hang on to a house we couldn't afford. Believe me, after 27 years of iron sharpening iron, this is a tremendous reward! It has not been easy - two oldest children, Type-A personalities who didn't start growing up until late in life - but there was never any question that we were together for richer or poorer, illness or health.
Tripp is home every night for dinner and weekends and school holidays. I have started earning a little bit more money writing in addition to blogging and we are living much more simply.
All by way of saying that it has been good to see my husband in his element taking down a tree that would intimidate most people - and only with the help of our sons. They have already cut and stacked three cords of firewood for the winter, with many more to come. I am so proud of him, so glad to see him so happy and fulfilled! I am thinking maybe God will eventually find a way for him to move back into arboriculture. He really does seem so at home with trees.
Here's Zach - and no, he didn't work in his bare feet, I just grabbed everyone for these pictures. And the serious face is going for the old-fashioned treeman look:
Justin thinking things over:
Jonny standing proud:
The whole crew:
My man:
Comments
Dad's new profile pic!
Posted by: Ben | November 4, 2009 9:36 PM
