TCC for 2/13/08

The Caretaker's Concern 2/13/08
Ghetto temp. 50 F. and steady.
Island tmp. 29 F. Yesterday's L/H: 13/24 F.
Current conditions: Occasional snow/sleet/freezing rain. Mild wind from somewhere...

It started as snow last night, come the morning it switch to sleet, eventually going on to freezing rain. Come the evening it switched around between the three. Quite a bit of freezing rain though, the Caretaker spent most of the day in the Ghetto trying to get caught up on thank you notes that are long overdo. When the wind would pick up, ice from the tree limbs over the Ghetto would come crashing down on the roof. He did get out and about on the Island for a while to take some photos of the freezing rain build up on the trees, bushes, etc. The freezing rain brought down a few branches. While the Caretaker was out taking photographs, one rather large tree limb came down from the maple on the South East shoreline of the Island. The Caretaker was glad to not be under it. However, the Caretaker was not glad about the loss of this limb from the maple, this tree has been taking quite a beating over the years. At the rate it's going, it may only have a few years left, that is if it keeps losing limbs. It would be a real shame for this tree to go, its splay of foliage is quite nice in the Summer, and come the Autumn, it is quite gorgeous. The Caretaker would describe it to you, but instead he has decided to rely on a photograph:


Quite a smash of red.

In other news, the Caretaker is gearing up to make his way to the mainland tomorrow, hopefully the ice will cooperate and not break apart. He's running low on both kerosene and propane, it would be good if he could pick some up tomorrow. The only hurdle, if there is one, is getting from the Island to the ice, that is where it is most likely to be the thinest. Once away from the Island, some four to eight feet, the ice should be plenty thick. It has been about two weeks since the Caretaker has been to the mainland. However, he can't say he hasn't seen anyone since then, two weekends ago he saw some Ice-fishermen, they were about 500 yards or so away from the Island on the ice, the Caretaker didn't speak to them or anything, but he did notice that they were out on the ice fishing. Aside from that he hasn't seen anyone, he has spoken to a few people on the phone, but other than that no other contact with people. The longest the Caretaker has gone without seeing anyone was during ice-out of his first Winter here on the Island, he went three and a half weeks without seeing anyone, that was two Winters ago. Anyway, and now for today's poem in honor of the coming Valentine's Day holiday:

"The Presence of Absence"

I need to know,
What it means
To let you go,
Through that door
For a while,
'Til you return my smile.

Heart grows dark when we part.
I miss you more and more,
By my side through the night,
I love to hear you sigh,
It's okay it's alright,
It's okay it's alright,

Until we say
Goodbye.

--The Caretaker