When the water heater died yesterday, we assumed we were probably three months past warranty. Or, you know, two weeks. Turns out it was a 12-year warranty! We saved a bundle.
I’ve picked up needle and thread again. It means no Danish or French murder mysteries for a while (or to be honest, Scottish). It also means cursing at the fifteenth attempt to thread a needle.
Note to self: thread a dozen needles in the bright afternoon sun. Have them ready to go. Note to self: not one but two friends gave you needle threaders for Christmas. Use them!
And regarding the upstairs furnace? Because the first floor is heated, it turns out we don’t really need the attic one on at night. Revelation.
I’ll end with a question: from time to time do you fall in love with a stranger? And if so who? The server at the coffee shop or your mailman or somebody on TV?
For me, last night it was the guest on The Daily Show talking about the organization he and another former inmate formed to help fire-trained former felons segue into firefighting as a profession. He had the best smile, such beautiful gestures, and the brightest spirit.
You probably love him a little now too.
Watching my husband rally in his broad competence to install a new water heater has me falling a little back in love with him too.
I always fall in love with good people.
Nice!💕
The word “love” is a word like “snow”, in my simple understanding of our apparently very complex language of English.
To describe a type of love requires paragraphs of words. Same for types of snow. I know I’m not the first to say this. I can’t remember where or when this was said to me. But, yes, I fall in love rather frequently. You have brought my attention to this phenomenon. Thanks, Dee.
How important words are! I will be thinking about this today.
You are very lucky to have a handy husband. I am so jealous…..My husband can only change light bulbs……that’s it. LOL
I know. He can wire and plumb a room, fix a broken snowblower, trouble shoot computer issues and and and
I do love people whose smiles are broad and make it up to their eyes … jealous, too if I’m being honest … I have recently considered the possibility that people who smile a lot were raised by parents who smiled a lot (mine did not … just saying)
Liz A
His smile was to die for. Sorry to hear about unsmiling parents. You have managed to develop a wry sense of humor, anyway!
Dee~ I’ve sat with this post since it went up. Thinking about that ability we (well, some) humans have to have such strong feelings of fondness, of ‘love’ for other humans we will never know in person. I have to think that this is a very wonderful trait. Don’t you?
I watched this in action with a Kindergarten Boy in the 1990’s. He was a magnet for the other children and teachers. Everyone was drawn to him, wanted to be near him. The 5th & 6th grade boys welcomed him into their play…invited him (through their actions) to be one of them. It was fascinating to see. I studies this situation and never forgot it. I’ve studied this aspect of human nature ever since.
As for today’s post…I happened to have watched this video the other night, right before your post here and this “brother” jumps out at me (and many in the comments) so much. His ability to love, support, be there for his sister AND articulate his loving, compassionate heart and deep knowledge and wisdom climbed right into my heart.
If there were more humans like him, I think we’d be in a very different place in the world.
Here it is in case you want to watch (I know that’s not a thing for you, but here it is anyway).
Also, watching J. move through his VA appointments this week had my love shining. I love that kind of loving fondness. It feels so good and so connecting.
Thanks for this thought provoking post Dee.
Nancy
Well you’re right Nancy. I only watched the first couple of minutes of the video but got the gist of a family love that loves the person “who just presents a little differently.” They’re inspiring. The brother’s love here is so genuine. And moving. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been having a very mixed response to this. Reflex – I was envious. I was waiting for carefully vetted (by me) plumbers to come solve an issue here. I remembered all the years that these problems were shouldered for me by Jim. But then I remembered the relief and pride I took when I had to handle stuff on my own. May there alway be strong shoulders in your life. As to falling in love with a stranger? That wet hellion’s insta account is my first stop before coffee every day. Such joy he has! What’s not to love, even if I can hardly understand a word he says. And thanks for a great story prompt.
Now that we’re older I think about how I’d manage in Ken’s absence probably more than is healthy. Thank goodness I’ll probably kick the bucket before him because our areas of competence do not overlap much.