A Conversation

Eating supper, looking out over the deck to the neighbor's maple tree, which has a large branch that hangs over our yard and shields us from the apartments but also makes it very hard to grow grass in that corner of our yard. The house is going into foreclosure and is being vacated as we speak.

"I'm debating whether to cut that branch down or leave it. It's nice the way it acts as a barrier between us and the apartment buildings."

"Yea, but it's so shady. Wait, how would you do that?"

"With a pole saw."

"Yea, with a pole saw. Cut it down with a pole saw while standing underneath it. How have you lived to be 34 years old?"

"By not having access to a pole saw."