Today I became someone else.
The goal was to take some limbs off some trees next to the driveway.
I got the loader tractor out with the hydraulic grapple mounted. Got my extension ladder out.
linesman's belt and 2 chainsaws. the small arborist Stihl 200t and the old workhorse 029.
I cleared 2 trees on the east side no problem. 3 trips with the loader to the brushpile.
I moved to the west side, much bigger Black Walnut tree. The plan was to ladder up 16', strap on, and stand on a 12" limb and cut a 10" diameter limb about 6' higher, then transition back to the ladder and cut the 12" diameter limb off.
The ladder was too wobbly, the big saw was too heavy, everything felt wrong. I felt like my odds of disaster were greater than the chances of everything going as planned.
I quit. I told myself quit being a baby and just do it. I couldn't.
I'm 66 years old. I had some fierce back spasms about an hour earlier when I was cutting some weeds and brush and that was on my mind too. Another 15 minutes and I could have been done with the trees but I couldn't do it. Not today. Maybe never.
Seriously thinking I might be better off standing on the ground and dropping the whole damn 30" tree.
I feel defeated but maybe that's better than a ride in an ambulance on a backboard.
It was more fun when I was young and strong and fearless.