The Cozy Corner by Steve Nauman

“Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me; shelter me from danger. I place myself in your care. You will save me, Lord; you are a faithful God.” Psalm 31:4-5 (GNT)

January 7, 2025 started as any other day, my wife Ruth and I walked a couple of miles, we went to the grocery store, and after eating lunch we headed outside to work in the woods…

For the first week of January the weather was decent, the ground was bare and dry. Since we have an outdoor wood furnace, we were going to collect some logs I had previously cut that were in various places around the woods. But first, I thought there is one tree that I had cut that was still “hung-up” in other trees and needed to be pulled down and have the logs cut out. (Something I had done many times before.) I hooked a chain onto the base of that tree, and with the tractor I started pulling until that 70′ tall tree was down. I stepped off the tractor, picked up the chainsaw and “stepped off” the first 15′-18′ log to cut from the base of that tree…NEVER NOTICING TWO HUGE MISTAKES I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE...Where I was going to cut, the trunk of the tree was about 3″ off the ground so the only thing I was focused on was not pinching the saw blade or touching the chain to the ground. I was just about through the log–WHEN SUDDENLY THE LOG BROKE LOOSE AND THE TREE SMACKED ME IN MY LOWER LEGS LIKE A GIANT BOW THAT HAD JUST RELEASED AN ARROW.

So, there I was flat on my back with crushed lower legs and the enormous weight of that tree resting on my legs just below my knees. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE LEVEL OF PAIN. Ruth was frantic, saying “What do I do” over and over!

I knew we had to get this weight off of me ASAP or I would pass out from the pain. I knew HOW to do it, but we needed help. Ruth called our neighbor, and thankfully he was home and rushed to our side in a few minutes.

One of the random thoughts that went through my mind was about 30 years earlier I had been in the ER for kidney stones. After the technician did some type of treatment and the stones moved and the pain eased the technician said, “At least now you have experienced the worst pain you will ever have in your life.” NOT EVEN CLOSE, I WAS THINKING!

I told Robin to use some of the long smaller diameter logs nearby to use as a lever to lift the log off. He would have to hold the log up while Ruth pulled me out. (I would help with my arms-but I found that I wasn’t much help.) Robin lifted the log–instant relief, and Ruth (somehow) pulled me clear of the log. As she was pulling me out, I saw my right foot all flopped around in the wrong direction, plus I couldn’t feel it…I knew this was bad. I called the paramedics.

To be continued…..

In part 2, I will reveal the two huge mistakes that I made that triggered this calamity…Until then please pay attention to your surroundings and stay safe.

Till Next Time…..