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You all have shed some rays of sunshine through those foggy mornings for us, so I thought I would send this "story" along....someone mentioned that it reminded them of an old irish song????.... Karen Rita PD76/13 > > Superior Health Insurance > ATTN: Claims Review > PO Box 6789 > New York, NY 12345 > > Dear Sir, > > I'm writing in response to your request for additional information. > > In block #3 of the accident report form I put "Trying to do the job > alone" as the cause of the accident. In your letter you said that I > should explain more fully and I trust that the following details should > be sufficient. > > I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working > alone on the roof of a new 3 story building. When I completed my work I > discovered I had about 300 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry > the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a > pulley that was attached to the side of the building at the 3rd floor. > Securing the rope at ground level I went to to the roof swung the barrel > out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and > untied the rope while holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the > three hundred pounds of bricks. > > You will note in block #2 of the accident report form that I stated I > weighed 165 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so > suddenly I lost my presence of mind and did not let go of the rope. > Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the > building. In the middle of the second floor I met the barrel coming > down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone. > > Slowed down only slightly by the barrel I continued my rapid ascent, not > stopping until my right hand was two knuckles deep into the pulley. > Fortunately, I retained concouisness and was able to hold tightly to the > rope in spite of my pain and injuries. > > At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the > ground and the bottom of the barrel broke out. Devoid of the weight of > the bricks the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again > to my weight in box #2. As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid > descent down the side of the building. In the middle of the second > floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two > fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. This > encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen injuries when I > fell onto the pile of bricks. Fortunately only three vertebrate were > cracked. > > I'm sorry to report however as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, > unable to stand or move, I lost my presence of mind and let go of the > rope. The empty barrel, weighing more than the rope, came back down and > broke both of my legs. > > I hope I furnished the information that you need to complete the > processing of my claim and that you understand how the accident occurred > by trying to do the job alone. > > Sincerely, > > S. Anderson > > ---------------------------------------------------