Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m an arborist, right? Just your average tree geek, but today was anything but average. I woke up in Voreppe, that cute lil’ town nestled in the Isère department. You know, the one with the stunning views of the Chartreuse mountains? Yeah, that one.
So, I grab my coffee from this tiny café on Rue de la République. Best croissants ever, by the way. I’m chowing down, thinking, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First stop, I’m at this old oak on Rue des Écoles. It’s massive, like, “I’m the king of the forest” massive. I’m checking it out, and boom! A squirrel jumps outta nowhere. I swear it looked like it was plotting my demise. I’m like, “Dude, chill! I’m just here for the tree.” But nah, this little furball starts chattering at me like I’m invading its territory. I’m just trying to do my job, man!
Then, I get a call from a client. They’re freaking out about a tree in their backyard on Chemin de la Mairie. Apparently, it’s leaning dangerously close to their house. I’m like, “Great, just what I need.” So, I rush over, dodging cyclists and old folks on their morning strolls. Voreppe’s got a vibe, but sometimes it feels like a game of Frogger out here.
I get to the house, and wow, this tree is a hot mess. It’s like it’s been through a hurricane or something. I’m assessing the situation, and I can feel the homeowner’s eyes burning into my back. I’m sweating bullets, thinking, “If this thing falls, I’m gonna be the guy who let it happen.”
So, I start climbing. I’m up there, feeling like a ninja, when suddenly, I hear a loud CRACK! My heart drops. I look down, and the homeowner’s dog is barking like it’s auditioning for a horror movie. I’m like, “Dude, chill! I’m not the one who’s gonna get crushed!”
Finally, I manage to stabilize the tree. I’m feeling like a hero, right? But then, I slip. Just a little, but enough to make my heart race. I’m hanging on for dear life, thinking, “This is it. I’m gonna be the first arborist to become a tree.”
After that near-death experience, I’m back on solid ground, and the homeowner’s all smiles. I’m like, “Yeah, no biggie.” But inside, I’m like, “Dude, I almost became a pancake.”
Next, I head over to Parc de la Mairie. It’s beautiful there, with all the flowers and stuff. I’m just trying to catch my breath when I see this kid trying to climb a tree. I’m like, “Hey, buddy, that’s not how you do it!” But he’s all, “I wanna be a tree climber like you!” I’m thinking, “Great, now I’m a role model for tree-huggers.”
Then, outta nowhere, it starts pouring. I mean, like, monsoon-level rain. I’m soaked, my tools are soaked, and I’m just standing there, laughing like a maniac. Voreppe’s weather is wild, man. One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s a water park.
I duck into a café on Rue de la Liberté to dry off. I’m sitting there, sipping a hot chocolate, and I can’t help but think about how crazy today was. I mean, I love my job, but some days, it feels like I’m in a circus.
As I’m leaving, I bump into an old friend from high school. We start chatting about life, and I’m like, “Dude, you won’t believe the day I had!” He’s laughing, and I’m just glad to share the madness.
Finally, I head home, exhausted but happy. Voreppe’s got its quirks, but it’s my home. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in the life of an arborist, right?