Ah, there’s nothing like the sound of
a chainsaw at 8 in the morning.
It’s even better when the sound wakes
you up, like it did to me Saturday morning. As you may know, I live
in a densely packed part of Marquette. The buildings are within 10
or 20 feet of each other, and whatever back yards are around are
pretty much all connected, although separated by fences. So Saturday
morning I can’t say I was surprised by being jolted awake by the
sound of a chainsaw tearing through a tree next door.
It was a joy. Trust me.
I think I knew something was up about
15 minutes before the sound of the chainsaw started, when I noticed
the sound of a big bucket truck with a diesel engine idling nearby.
I don’t think it was enough to fully wake me up; it was just loud
enough to make an impression on someone like me who was half asleep
and trying to stay that way. Unfortunately, I didn’t stay that way
for long, as the chainsaw started to rip through a tree right at 8,
and kept going for the next hour or so.
First of all, who the heck cuts down a
tree at 8 in the morning? Especially at 8 in the morning on a
Saturday? Especially at 8 in the morning on a Saturday in a
neighborhood where there are dozens of other people within 50 feet of
your chainsaw-ing, many of whom may still be sleeping (or even
sleeping it off) at that hour? And who leaves a loud diesel truck
running while doing the chainsaw-ing at 8 in the morning? I mean,
you’re making enough noise with just the chainsaw; do you need to
leave the truck running to complete your Symphony of Clatter in G
Minor, Opus One? The last time I checked, diesel fuel was almost
three four bucks a gallon. Based on the size of the bucket truck, it
probably went through a gallon in four minutes, even while idling.
Wouldn’t that get kind of expensive? Or is it a small price to pay
for completion of your little symphony?
Sigh.
I’m sorry if I’m sounding like a
Cranky Old Man (in training) here, but it was not the best way in the
world to wake up. And I’m sure there are people out there who
would scoff at the fact that I was awoken at 8 am; my co-workers who
have to get up daily at 4 am would definitely have no sympathy for
me. But there’s also common courtesy involved here. When you’re
doing very loud work in a very densely populated neighborhood,
shouldn’t you think of the people who live around you? I mean, if
I had a lawn mower or a leaf blower I certainly wouldn’t go out at
10 or 11 at night and use them. That’s just common courtesy. So
what makes 8 in the morning (especially on a Saturday) any different?
Some of us work late, have sleeping patterns that reflect that, and
don’t appreciate being jolted awake by a chainsaw (and a loud
diesel truck) that early.
And that's all I have to say about
that.
8-)
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