Lumberjack Show

While we were at Niagara Falls we walked along a park that stretched a couple of miles along the Niagara River. It was a beautiful, sunny day. The roar of the water and the mist from the falls was a constant as we walked along enjoying the view. Along the way we encountered several street entertainers. There were musicians and jugglers, but our favorite was the lumberjack show. They had set up bleachers and a stage in the park where Team USA had challenged Team Canada to a contest of lumberjacking skills. We watched in awe as Team USA won the single buck contest. (Buck refers to a bucksaw. The ones we saw were about five feet long. Single denotes that one man was handling the saw.) The contest was to see which man could saw through a log in the least amount of time. There were several heats of this contest and the USA won them all in amazing speed. It took between sixteen and twenty seconds for one man to saw through a log three feet in diameter. Maybe this is no big deal if you are a lumberjack, but we were totally amazed. The ax-throwing contest was the next event. The Canadians won this by throwing large axes across the stage and hitting the bulls-eye. Then came the ladies who were referred to as lumberjills. Team USA won in the lumberjill double buck contest. I was so proud. I wanted to be a lumberjack when I was a little a girl but was told girls couldn’t do that. It was wonderful to affirm that girls can be lumberjacks.

Overhead at the Senior Center gym today; “What day is it today?” “It’s Wednesday.” But I don’t work out on Wednesday. Are you sure it’s Wednesday?” “Yes, it is Wednesday.” “Then what am I doing here?”