Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010.
For the first time in over 20 years, I was able to get in the car from where I live and drive to a Target within a half hour. I love Target.
Since we are not at the resort now, as my faithful readers know, I will write about some resort stories. Here's one about the seasonal work we have to do.
Docks, Piers
Every Spring and Fall there is a lot of work around the resort. One of the jobs I hate is the piers. Now it has become a job for John and a worker or two. Here's why I no longer do them.
When we were married a year or so and Tom Schroeder wasn't around to help with the piers anymore, it became my job to help. John had a system where each pier had to be taken out a certain way so he was the boss. He told me where to stand, how to lift or pull and he would too. Most of the time we were both in our chest waders. The rocks were slippery on the shore and the rubber boots didn't offer a lot of traction so I was a little worried about falling into the ice cold water. Thankfully that didn't happen.
We had done the easier piers first and now was time to do the Maple/Balsam pier. There are a lot of rocks on the shores of our lake and it is a rocky area for the most part. So when it comes time to take out a pier, there are rocks to go over or move out of the way. The Maple/Balsam pier was no exception. We took tools, come-a-longs, etc. down the rustic steps to the water. After a lot of exertion and frustration we only got the pier stuck on a rock.
John cranked on the come-a-long because I was not strong enough to do so. So my job was to lift up on the aluminum end of the pier, if I could. After several attempts, I felt a soreness in my back but didn't complain because the pier finally came out.
As I walked back up the rustic steps, I told John that I was never going to do that again. My back was sore already, which meant I was in trouble. John was concerned for me but said that was not the last pier. I told him I was done for the day. He agreed and off we went to the house.
For about 3 days I suffered in pain and finally went to the doctor. He gave me muscle relaxers, pain killers (which I never used) and told me to rest quietly for a few days.
John had to hire a local teenager to help him with the rest of the piers. To this day I will not help lift or heave on a pier. I learned my lesson well. Sometimes I just think I can do it. Then I remember this and then I become more honest with myself. I'm only 5 feet tall and I'm not a weight lifter. So even though I consider myself strong, lifting 40 pounds of dog food around is no problem, I have to take care of myself and remember this incident. I'm only human.
So every year since, I have found someone to help John get the piers out. It wasn't supposed to be my job to find someone, but I felt it was my responsibility. Thankfully John hasn't had to lift or wrench on his back too.
So now all the piers have been out onto the shores for weeks. The bays are frozen over back home on Spider Lake. Snowmobiling will begin soon and the worries of winterizing the resort are over. We can relax and enjoy winter. So bring on the snow!
Have a good day.
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