We do what we've got to do

I perched atop the front porch roof on Sunday afternoon to remove tons of dense, wind-packed snow. I worked rapidly to keep warm in the chilling north wind that was bringing more snow. The porch is thirty feet long and the depth of the snow was, give or take, three feet.  I am reluctant to start the task but the bedroom windows were becoming obscured by the snow, telling me the porch carried a dangerous weight.


Structures have collapsed in Ironwood over the years, including a portion of the silk-screen business  next door, a beer warehouse, numerous residences, garages and other businesses including a partial collapse of my dentist's roof during business hours. My appointment was not for that day.


I have (proactively) replaced the underlying structure of the porch roof and floor and installed new roofing and decking. Even an insurance check would not atone for the back-breaking work that went into renovation and repairs. It would not restore the circa 1900 detail of carpentry.


As I pushed snow off the roof I was comforted in my wife's efforts below. She was shoveling the porch floor beneath the roof on which I stood. She impressed me as a Proverbs 31 woman and discouraged my taking of any long breaks inside the house.


The cafe across the street was open and people in this small town are quite used to people standing on their roofs and removing the snow. Most  diners were not clad heavily, wearing only a light jacket with the zipper halfway open but they only had to get into their cars which they remotely started during their dessert course. It didn't bother me that I wore a blizzard parka with a heavy hooded sweatshirt underneath. Elk skin choppers with woolen mittens inside held the shovel. My Sorel boots with wool felt liners were deep inside the snow and I felt chilled, as I often do, since qualifying as a senior citizen.


The job was completed before dusk and we retired to the comfort of our wood heat to watch a movie. We each slept through parts of it  Seems to me that the same job did not tire me to this extent 10 years ago. I recall doing the job in an hour after Super Bowl III. The N.Y. Jets beat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Broadway Joe over Johnny Unitas. 


With Super Bowl XLV rapidly approaching I take Alleve after cleaning off the roof instead of going out for a few beers with buddies. 


I still have the garage roof to do. I'm hoping for a melt-down to take care of it.