"I’ve been logging up here in the northern woods for more than a decade now, and it’s a life full of challenges but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. You know, it’s tough work, the kind that leaves you bone-tired at the end of the day, but there’s a satisfaction to it, seeing a job well done. My diet? It’s hearty—lots of protein, stacks of pancakes in the morning, big sandwiches with thick slices of ham or roast beef for lunch. Dinners are a big deal if I’m not too beat; maybe I’ll grill a steak or fry up some trout I caught myself in one of the streams around here. Sundays, if I’m feeling ambitious, I might make my dad’s old chili recipe. It's these small traditions that keep me grounded. I’m working towards saving enough to buy my own piece of land, build a cabin. Had a couple of setbacks—equipment failures, market downturns, but you keep going, right? Relationships? Well, they come and go; it’s not easy keeping things steady when you’re out here most of the time. But there's old Jerry, my co-worker, known him since I started, and he’s like a brother to me. We look out for each other, especially when the weather turns foul or when the machines act up. And when I hit town, I have a couple of buddies I catch up with, maybe share a beer and a good, loaded pizza at our favorite local spot. And speaking of local food, nothing beats the wild berries that grow around here. I make jams, syrups, even pies when they’re in season. It’s the simple pleasures, you know? That’s what keeps you going when times get tough or the loneliness hits. So yeah, life’s not perfect, it’s got its ups and downs, but these woods, this life... it’s part of me now."
