As I turned onto Main Street with the stump grinder in tow, I received a call, “Where’d you go, I have some Chilli dogs for us for lunch.”

This was the last stump I was grinding before sending my unit to the mechanic for some major welding work on the motor mount plate.

“I’m turning around now.”

My client was an old friend.

“Just come in through the kitchen door.”

We sat at the table. He told me about his recent heart procedure and the recovery process. We talked about life and family. We would take turns. As he talked about the pool cover, I would chew, and then vice-versa.

The tangy mixture of diced onion, chili sauce, mustard and hot dog reminded me of many job site lunches eating these Coney Island style hotdogs all across the area on peoples’ lawns, on peoples’ patios, in peoples’ garages. Just light, good-hearted talk with the crew, with a friend, a nice day and a little heart burn. Most of the work was done anyway. The chip truck was there if you needed it.

It could be an Ash or White Pine removal, or a Silver Maple prune, or a stump grinding, whatever, but I’ll never say no to a chili dog.

Author’s note: A special thanks to Alan Krieg Tree Care and the many Coney Island lunches they treated me to over the years.