Despite it all
Mondays are never easy, but this one topped the charts for me. I started out my morning with a lukewarm shower that quickly turned cold before I had the chance to rinse. Irritated and grouchy, I headed downstairs to see if the pilot light was out on our water heater. What I found was a half inch of water in my basement mechanical room that was quickly soaking the living and guest room carpet.
My reaction could not have been further from cool, calm and collected. Those of you who know me know the words I screamed through immediate sobs.
You see, water issues apparently plague (and follow) my family. We replaced a water heater a few years back in our home in Colorado after the same thing happened. We also had to replace furniture and flooring after a broken pipe caused flooding in our first floor living room a year before that.
We hear water filling our ice maker or our daughter washing her hands and immediately bolt to all ends of the house trying to figure out where it’s coming from. Water haunts us.
Because of our expertise in this area, we knew exactly what steps to take first thing that morning. But our experience was quite different this time around.
Instead of a 1-800 number posted on my fridge, my first phone call was to may stepdad, the local plumber. My second call was to my brother, the other plumber. And although my attempt to find a water restoration company resulted in four calls to North Platte before finding one that would come this far, my final call was to my insurance agent, my friend, whose face I know and trust.
My anger didn’t exactly melt away, but my stress disappeared the second my brother walked in the door to replace the unit. I was even put to ease when my stepdad arrived shortly after to contact the additional contractor they needed and provide us with suggestions for restoration.
My mom came over for coffee, consoling and kid control.
The restoration team arrived a few hours later, and although they weren’t local, made quick work of their part and we appreciated them.
The final person to join the party was the electrician needed to fix some outdated wiring before we were up and running. Low and behold, the man walking in the door was a childhood neighbor I’ve known my entire life.
Despite a flooded basement and a day spent on the phone and with contractors, we spent the evening playing and laughing with our kids.
The Good Life. I’ve always enjoyed that phrase about my home state and today I genuinely felt it.
I may miss Colorado and city life, but there is something about this small town life that felt right today. Today, there was no balance. Today, the scales tipped all the way.