Yesterday was unusually busy. It began with my waking up early,
3:30 AM, due to the unwelcome return of my sleep issues. I was at my
Mom's because she was scheduled for her cataract surgery. Although it
was not a major procedure, I want to be present every time anesthesia is
used. Thankfully. my career allows me the flexibility I treasure!
While
I was in Pennsylvania Sunday afternoon, Robby and Scott planned for a
"man's afternoon." Instead of their traditional macho endeavors of
watching television in their underwear while eating a smorgasbord of
fried foods, the two embarked on an ambitious home improvement project.
With the help of a handy friend, they installed a wood stove insert in
our living room fireplace.
I have to
admit that I was delighted to be two states away while this project was
attempted. Scott, who has so many wonderful talents and attributes, is
not particularly skilled with tools. In fact, the wood stove
installation was the first home improvement project he has attempted in
our 13 years together.
Needless to say, I
was concerned about my novice husband attempting a project of this
scale. I would have preferred he began his foray into the wonderful
world of tools with changing the shower head or snaking a drain. Despite
my concerns, he was determined to install the wood stove and was not
going to be deterred from this goal. I tried to convince him that this
project warranted a professional contractor, but he was steadfast in his
plans to do the work himself. Not wanting to emasculate him, I finally
conceded and provided him with as much support as I could muster.
After logging onto his own Hotspot VPN (he is now a convert to the additional safety afforded by the service) Scott
invested hours watching Youtube videos and scouring the internet for
advice and instructions. He tackled the project with an impressive
determination to succeed. By the time I left on Sunday morning, my
worries were being tempered by my burgeoning confidence in his
installation plan. I knew that he had done ample preparation, and I
hoped that nothing unexpected occurred that would thwart his efforts. I
kissed the boys good bye, reminded Robby to run directly to Mr. Bill's
house if Daddy fell off the roof, and left the two to complete their
"man work."
I understand that the
installation hit a few snags, but the boys were able to figure them out.
Several hours after I arrived at my Mom's house I received emailed
photos of the new wood stove, completely installed. Scott sounded so
proud on the phone that I couldn't help but smile.
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