I’VE CHANGED MY MIND
The old rusty Nail
AN E-JOURNAL FOR OLD PEOPLE
Russell Burton, an Old Person
I just finished reading an article I wrote for this column sometime ago entitled ‘Words to Live By’. In it I wrote that just because you can do something physically does not mean that you should do it, especially when a person is old. In that article I wrote about rebuilding a portion of my backyard deck. As expected it was hard work for someone who was 80 years old at the time and I guess when I finished it I was tired, I hurt and somewhat depressed.
So, I wrote a very negative article about working hard when you are an old person. Yes, about the aches and pains which follow such hard labor. But, as I frequently do I forgot to take my own advice.
How so? Well, I just finished reworking the rest of my deck. I just put new boards on the support timbers and covered them with outdoor carpet. And, you know I did not have the aches and pains that I wrote about in my previous article.
So, what happened that changed my physical prowess and my previous advice not to do this kind of hard labor. Well, I did it like an old man should do it you know a few boards each day and stopping when my back began to hurt! Now that is sound advice that I just learned makes lots of sense.
Okay, why did I venture into this kind of hard labor when I had vowed never to do it again? Of course, it was necessity! Why necessity you ask? Well, I could not get any help.
All of this began several months ago when I could see evidence of dry wood rot on my decking. The boards were not exposed for me to see this wood rot although it was mainly on their near underneath side. I built it about 10 years ago out of cedar boards. I used cedar because it is a pretty lumber especially when new. But of course as it aged it darken to where it was nearly black. Yep, all of the beauty was gone and when I tried to pressure wash it the boards began to come apart.
After I had pulled up a few boards to make sure that they needed to be replaced, I decided that it was time to phone a contractor. I do know such a person who lives in a house which I pass when I do my walking exercises. I phoned and was told that his father would come by and take a look. In a few days, he arrived at my front door to take measurements, etc. so that a bid would be made giving me the bad news about how much it would cost. I was prepared for at least a $300 price tag not including the boards.
It was a couple of weeks and I had not heard from him, but during my walk he stopped his pickup rolled down the window and asked me if his son had offered me a bid. I told him no. He replied that they were very busy but I would get one in a few days.
Just a caveat here, I wrote that he ‘rolled down’ his window. He did not roll down his window. He pushed a button and the window went down electronically. You know we just keep using those old descriptions even though things have changed. I bet a younger person does not say that a car window in rolled down. How about hanging up your phone.
Back to my story and the short of it I never did hear from him. I began to wonder why and finally realized that my job was so small that he did not want to fool with it. I suppose the main reason was that he would have to set up a crew to do a few hours work and therefore he would have to charge me a lot of money to make a profit and he would not do that because he is my friend.
It was a Saturday when I saw my neighbor’s young friend start to get into his pickup. I called out to him that I needed help and would pay him for his effort. He told me that his steady job was sheet metal work being paid $12 per hour. I told him about the work to be done and offered to pay him $15 an hour. He said he had done carpentry work in the past and appeared eager to get the job. Well, he never showed up!
So, what am I to do? My deck is torn up and no way to get any help. Well, of course I had no choice, but to do the work myself. Full of courage with considerable doubt thrown in, I went to my local Home Depot and order the lumber and carpet. I agreed for them to deliver it but of course at a price. Usually it can take most supplies home in my Honda Fit but these were 12 foot boards and carpeting.
A few days later, my phone rang it was the truck driver calling to say he was nearby and would be at my garage door in a few minutes. I waited at least a half hour before he arrived. He lowered his window of his huge truck to tell me in an unhappy voice that he did not know that this was a dead-end street. And, that he would have to back out of here and that would take him at least two hours.
Puzzled I asked why he did use the short exit road to a main street that was just a few feet behind his truck. Well, he failed to see that street. He had come in the other way having to make five tight turns which required backing up several times in order to do it. Why didn’t he ask for directions? Of course he has his trusty GPS which gave him directions but not the best directions. You know those things are really not that reliable when it comes to giving the best directions.
I then explained to him where I wanted the 20 boards put in my garage. He shook his head and showed me the contract that said it was curbside delivery only which he would do with a folk lift. No hand labor involved. I was stunned for Home Depot deliveries had been made to my place before with men who helped me do what I asked.
After some discussion in which I shamed him into helping me by noting that the work involved would take less time than our discussion was taking and of course that I was 81 years old. Reluctantly, he relented and the boards got put into my garage. It took two minutes with both of us working together. He waved goodbye when he started to back up his truck. I think we remained friends.
Of course, now came the real work. But you know, I got it done and the deck looks great! Well, what is the secret to doing it this time and not the aches and pains which came with my previous decking work? I took my time!!!! After cutting a couple of boards to size and attaching them to the support structure, I took a couple of hours rest. You know after three days, I had the 20 some boards in place and the carpet stapled down. Years ago I would have done this all in less than a day.
You know patience is the key word here. And too, I find patience helps when driving my car. It has taken me 81 years to learn that patience is my friend! I guess you could call me a slow learner.
Well it’s time for the old rusty nail to close another exciting article with some sage advice to you old readers. Hey take your time and you know what? We can still do a days work in three days!
