Even with power out, CMP gave us a warm feeling

We had a whole column planned on all the things we were thankful for for Thursday, but we had no power so we couldn't write it, didn't feel it anyway.

Then we were going to write it on Friday, but we still had no power, so we couldn't write it again. Worse than that, there was no generators left over to the Home Depot so we couldn't buy it there neither, not even on credit to boot.

But I am thankful for a certain contract CMP tree worker, who was shadowing CMP power trucks on Friday afternoon.

Not only did he assist in restoration along our road, but a few weeks earlier a tree on my property was threatening a CMP utility pole, so the company decided to take it down.

Well, that there, some kind of pine, had been dead on its heels for three year with Stewart beetles having their fill, for shoo-ah.

So when he cut it down and left it all neat and stacked by the driveway, I put on my flannel shirt (you have to have a flannel shirt on when you chop wood) and fell to action with a wedge and maul.

Given to one who works out regularly on the cardio stuff at Planet Fitness, we felt this would be a piece of cake. In fact, it weren't as we took a five minute break every 10 minutes with the beads of sweat forming in solid tribute to the work involved in such a mighty task.

Anyways we got it all cut and split into nice little pieces and I felt sure with all the bleaching an' drying in the sun and rain and snow for three years, I mean, how much creosote could there be in them branches?

Well, when the power went out Wednesday night me and Martha went to bed with dreams of sugar plums - and power restoration dreams - in our heads, but it wasn't to be, at least not on Thanksgiving.

Instead Martha got up on Thursday, started a fire in the woodstove with the tree the CMP tree cutter had taken down and we was warm as toast.

That wood kept us warm for two days. I even got four logs left.

When the tree cutter came by with the CMP crew, everyone in the house, including the dog and cat, got very excited seeing those orange trucks. I scurried down the driveway and asked if we might be getting power back shortly.

He said probably.

"Do you remember me?" he asked.

Being of a certain age, I, of course, said no.

"I cut your tree down for you about a month ago," he said proudly.

"I'm burning it right now, it kept us warm for two days and I still ain't done cutting once the weather turns round," I answered appreciatively.

"Nice," he chuckled.

Yes, I'm thankful.

I'm also thankful I got to see Tim Sample on Friday night at the Rochester Opera House, from which this column sprung as an homage of sorts.

Noel Paul Stookey and Dave Mallett were also wonderful, of course. But I can't sing in a column. However, if you want to hear me sing, stop by some day. There's worse out there. But you may already know that.

Yes, I'm thankful.