Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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THE LINE — I've never had a really dangerous job. The closest I got was when I was working for a landscaping company digging a giant hole in a backyard.
Turns out, they couldn't get a backhoe in the yard without tearing down the fence and at a significant expense. So, to get that big window in the basement to let in a lot of light, it was up to me, a pickax and a shovel. The goal: dig a hole 6 feet deep, 5 feet wide and about 12 feet long.
The digging wasn't the so-called dangerous part. That came when I was about 3 feet into the hole and uncovered a corner of what looked like a baby's blanket. A little more digging and a tiny skull fell out.
I went into panic mode, but before I could get a look at it, the family's dog jumped in the hole, snatched up the skull and took off. I chased that doggo around for about 20 minutes before I got a hold of it. The whole time thinking, "I just uncovered a murder and the homeowners are going to come home and kill me in order to keep everything quiet."
I finally wrangled the skull from the pup and to my relief I discovered it belonged to a cat. My relief was short-lived, however, because I had now inadvertently dug up the bones of this family's once-beloved pet and let the dog run amok with it. The rest of this saga is a story for another day.
What I'm getting at is my job is easy and I've never really had to do anything dangerous to make a living. The people in this video, however, are doing just that every day.
The video is from 2012, but it's just as impressive nine years later. It shows a linesman as he is taken into the sky on a helicopter while he is strapped to a platform on the outside. He's holding onto a giant ball and is lifted hundreds off I-don't-know-how-many feet into the air and installs this ball on a utility line. The ball is used to help notify small aircraft to the lines.
So much about this video is incredible. For one, the calm demeanor of the guy on the line and his precision. I change a light bulb on a 5-foot ladder and I am guaranteed to drop something, but he installs that marker with ease. Then the helicopter pilot: Holding steady that long and being that close to those lines and keeping everyone safe is absolutely jaw-dropping.
I also realized that I don't think the linesman is worried in the least. Not a nerve rattling in his body. I think this is true by looking at his legs. Next time you go to an amusement park, look at all the legs dangling on a thrill ride. The legs that are kicking back and forth like crazy are incredibly nervous about the upcoming ride. Those legs that are still are as calm as can be. This guy doesn't move those gangling limbs at all. He's just enjoying the ride and getting ready for the next trip.
The thought of being buried in a backyard in a hole I dug is as dangerous as I get with work, but I'm grateful for those out there willing to risk it for all of us.
