I was given a position as a danger tree faller for the forest service, and they gave me a partner. We were working on rehab blocks and future slash burns. There were always some big snags that needed to come down. These snags were scary, mostly fir and rotten, huge chunks would break off and come crashing down. You had to be quick to avoid being killed and, at the same time, save your saw.
I was still dealing with not drinking, and it was a daily battle; it had been more than a year since I quit. We were working on a block in the summer, and it was hot. We would start work at 6 am and quit at noon, then stay another two hours on fire watch.
I had an awesome jug that I would make Kool-Aid in and put in the freezer overnight to freeze. This was so good when the day heated up. For some reason, I had left my jug at home. It was the hottest day yet. We were going to be shut down after this day, so we were giving it. All I could think of was that jug of Kool-Aid. We finished the project and both headed to the truck. As my partner, Dan, arrived, he leaned over the truck box, exclaiming how much he needed a beer. I realized that even in such heat, I still only thought of that jug of Kool-Aid. It was a great feeling.