Milton and Me
I don't have to burn wood at my home in Wilton. But, in a way, I need to burn wood.
By Michael Burke
One day in February I went to get firewood. I took the canvas wood-hauler out of the wood bin and walked through the three parts of the house -- main house, mudroom, workroom -- to the barn where the wood pile is, or was.Every spring I order firewood from my wood man, Milton. We have a routine, a ritual, Milton and I. I call and announce myself: "Hello, Milton, this is Michael Burke, out on the Old Jay Road." I pause for a moment to see if there is going to be a greeting, a grunt even. He usually says, "huh.
