IF FOUND ONE MORE SKUNK

FOUND ONE MORE SKUNK

Last week when Kate and Aaron were in G.J., I made a list of things they could do to help Clarissa and I. A big one on the list was to help me dig up the lawn and uncover the septic tank lid so the tank could be pumped. I try to do this at least every five years. We dug it up with the help of Curtis and Michael and Goodwin’s Septic Tank Service came and pumped the tank. I have two leach fields in the pasture and each spring when I burn or start the irrigation system, I switch the valve to alternate which leech field is used for that year.

The value is located next to the white fence at the front of the house in a four inch plastic pipe inserted about two feet in the ground. I have a special tool to reach to the bottom of the pipe and turn the valve to force the septic tank flow into the field not used the previous year. The opening to the pipe is usually covered by a lid but it had been knocked off so the pipe was open. I pushed up my sleeve and stuck my bare hand into the pipe past my elbow to clean out the debris which I knew would have fallen into the pipe over the last year so I could insert my valve tool into the hole. The first fist full I pulled up was leaves that kind of sealed the pipe. I re-entered the pipe with my hand and the next handful was very wet and gooey. I expected some wetness because the pipe was open and rain and snow could enter the pipe. This substance also was accompanied by a strong pungent odor. I continue to pull handfuls of material from the hole which included hair and decayed flesh so I could insert the tool.

The septic man came over to where I was working because of the smell. Aaron came over too but told his kids to stand back because of the odor. The septic pumper said, “WHAT’S A SKUNK!” Aaron added-“There is its head” pointing to a mass I had pulled out of the pipe and laid by the pipe. All I knew was the stink was bad and my face was a few inches from this sticky mass. There was no reason to stop however because my bare hand and arm had already been up and down the hole and it wasn’t going to get any worse so I cleaned out the hole the best I could. Aaron was scared I might get infection and the pumper hated the smell. Aaron dug a hole in the pasture about 50 feet away and buried the mass in it while shouting at his boys to stay away. I washed off my arm with the garden hose and was then directed into the house where I was advised by Clarissa to strip and shower while she washed all the clothes I was wearing immediately. The stain didn’t wash out of the sleeve on my 2009 Bolder Boulder shirt.

I went to the store-bought some plastic gloves and removed a little more from the hole so the tool attached to the valve and I got it turned. I didn’t get sick but occasionally I smell skunk. I don’t like skunks but I do have some feelings for the little skunk that climbed down the pipe and couldn’t get back out.

K.K.SUMMERS
4-2-2010