Back in December, a powerful North Idaho windstorm toppled part of a tree on our property and knocked out power across the county.

Six months later, with plenty of interruptions from snow, life, and comfortable chairs near warm fires, my friend Terry and I finally finished the cleanup.

What followed included buried “spear logs,” chains, pickup trucks, branches dragging behind us down the road, another encounter with the “cardboard police” at the dump, and Terry’s disappointment at being denied the chance to prove his manhood through manual labor.

Along the way came laughter, friendship, hard work, faith, and hot fudge sundaes at Sonic.