“Henny—get up!” I said. “We’re going to get run over.”
The white truck had S&K Plumbing and Pump emblazoned in navy and red on its side panels.
“Henny—leave it! Get up!”
The truck turned into a neighbor’s drive. Can’t imagine they’re happy to have a plumber visit, I thought. Lucky, though….
Can you imagine what life was like without indoor plumbing?
“Okay Henny, roll, roll, roll on that earthworm—the danger has passed.”
In less than a week, our snow has all but vanished. A few small mounds linger in shady spots, but the birds declare spring from treetops at first light. Red winged blackbirds shrill and groups of robins are taunting Henrietta on our walks. They wait until we’re about five feet away, then take flight and land just far enough away that they feel safe.
Lift off land.
Lift off land.
Lift off land.
Tease.
Tease.
Tease.
Yesterday I plumbed the depths of an interesting connection.
I’d taken our boat cover to The Fountain of Youth for Boats (interesting name! interesting owner!) for some seam and snap repairs. When I entered the building, there wasn’t a person in sight. Without a silver desk bell to ding, I waited a moment or two before hearing footsteps in the hallway.
“Hello?”
Grey hair, grey beard, and mischievous eyes appeared.
“What can I help you with?”
“My husband got your name from MW Marine…Not sure if he called? We’re hoping you can fix our boat cover?”
“Well, where is it?”
“In the back of my truck. Can I bring it in?”
“Well how else are we going to fix it?”
Together we fumbled the taupe monstrosity to find its splitting seams.
“Hey Dave,” he called into another room.
I followed his steps and found myself in a large warehouse space. An ancient looking sewing machine was anchored to a massive table.
“I got a couple seams for you to fix…easy. A missing snap, too!”
What? You’re going to fix it right now?? I thought. Incredible!
While Dave whipped out repairs in less than fifteen minutes, I talked to mischievous eyes. We covered fishing, Coronavirus, Costa Rica, the competition between Ranger and Vexus boats, the doggy daycare he owns with his son, how packs of dogs settle their own disagreements, and other topics that have flown from memory. He showed me his boat and told me its top speed is 68 mph.
I said 68 mph in a boat sounded terrifying to me.
He said he likes to go fast. His son just bought a corvette and he’s itching to drive.
I can’t believe the roads of connection we traveled in such a short time.
With repaired boat cover at my feet I asked, “What do I owe you?”
“Ten bucks.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nah. It wasn’t much…and you’re a good conversationalist.”
“Make it twenty. I don’t have cash and it seems ridiculous to ring up ten on a charge card.”
“Deal.”
What connections are you plumbing?
Great read!!
I thought about the altenative of leaving the boat cover with "mischievous eyes" and the playout. Fill out a ticket - one for you and one for the boat shop. Boat shop files theirs, maybe. You have yours eaten by Henny! There's a problem! And when did he say it was going to be ready for pickup? You make a return trip two days later to just check and find the owner can't check without the ticket he gave you. (All hypothetical of course as I'm sure this proprietor would have remembered you at a glance. Well, maybe not if he had instead become a ticket writer/giver/checker type, where only the scrap of paper mattered, not the customer's face.)
I'm betting the charge would have been $50 with a 3-day wait in ticket checker land.
Nice writing!