Renaissance Man who thrives on Risk

When last I saw Tony, the chimney repair man from Long Island, depart from my home in his white rented van he was clutching my $350 check advance in his hand and I was experiencing a measure of buyers remorse. Had I been taken in by his charm and seeming sincerity? But it was only $350 and I could live without it. It was the unpleasant thought of having to report him if he skipped out that bothered me more than the loss. But I succeeded in putting the event out of my mind on the assumption that as ordinarily happens, the things I worry most about, rarely materialize.

On the day before Tony is scheduled to return a red truck pulls into my driveway. The driver, it turns out is a roofer who works out of Old Saybrook. He and Tony have worked on a number of jobs together. Tony had called him and asked that he drop off a 32' ladder at the house for Tony to use the next day. This was the first clue that he was going to substitute the ladder for any sort of scaffolding. It sounded risky, but I was at least relieved to learn that it was his intent to return. 

He arrived the next day and the weather was perfect, sunny and dry. It was like greeting an old warm friend. We talked as he was setting up. The temperature was climbing rapidly and he said, "I suppose your wondering why I'm wearing this sweat shirt". I hadn't been, but let him answer anyway. "I'm trying to lose five". And then it came out that this Roman gladiator looking young man from Long Island is in actually a classical marshall arts enthusiast who fights competitively as a middleweight and he is five pounds above his 180lb fighting weight. He's been doing it for years.

He positioned the ladder and extended it such that it rested against a level of brick just below the upper lip of the chimney and below the disintegrating top row. He worked clearing the rubble and then, to my amazement, he climbed out onto the chimney on his knees leaving entirely his escape route to the earth and worked for long minutes in that uncomfortable unsafe position. Far below and looking up I imagined how it would feel being in that position and it seemed terrifying. When I climb my own ladder on those infrequent occasions that the gutters have to be cleaned, the ascent up the rungs and the task facing me push any fear of heights out of my mind but being able to hang onto and step on the ladder that extended up from the ground imparts a certain confidence that I'm connected with terra firma. Oh, I have been on the roof several times but on those occasions you are substituting one firm supporting surface for another and standing on your feet. What Tony was doing was more like a high wire act accomplished on his knees. 

(to be continued) See episode III Business Acumen--------