The New Driveway

The sprinkler leaked under the driveway. DeRay pondered how to fix it. He could put boards over a pipe to drive over. In the end, he decided to get bids to replace the driveway. The guy right here in Fruit Heights could never find time to come over. A guy from South Jordan came out the next morning; a contractor from Farmington came in the afternoon. Their bids were very close. The Farmington guy said he uses a microfiber for strength and always seals. Trouble is, he can't get to it for a month. The South Jordan Tongan could do it tomorrow, using the fiber and sealant. Tomorrow?  SOLD. They were here before 8 AM tearing out the concrete. He did charge us $200 extra for the sealing but they were so careful we didn't mind too much. They invited DeRay to share a crab salad sandwich for breakfast and offered him a Big Mac and coke for lunch. It's hard work to stand and watch. We were all totally worn out by day's end.

 Where do ants go when their home is destroyed?

Amy's intrepid Visiting Teachers somehow climbed up on the porch

and rang the doorbell.

How did they get down?
I hope they weren't wearing stylish stilettos.

     He wanted $2000, approximately half. So we wrote him out a check, no questions ask. During the night, DeRay woke up thinking: We don't have a contract; I don't even know their names. They come out here in an old truck; rent a trailer, rent a machine to tear up the concrete. They've probably spent about $500 tearing our place up. What if we never see them again.  At first they thought they might pour the first day but the ground was too wet so they tore the place up, took the concrete to the concrete graveyard and left.
     DeRay crawled out of bed and checked Gephardt - APPROVED. Reviews were mainly positive.
     He went back to bed and slept soundly.     

While riding my trike, I ran onto them coming into town the next morning.
They waved wildly.   
  Leveling; forming. They are ready to pour by 11. 

   

  Watching them efficiently and expediently pour concrete is as exciting as going through the Panama Canal. We are transfixed.

     We are as tired by evening as if we'd done all the work ourselves.

 It's not a good day for cats.

 They got new play treats.

 They are round and roll so they have to chase them.
Even though both cat are approximately the same age,
Pancake is like a kitten chasing after the treats
while Gnocchi is like an old man 
who can't hear, see, or smell.

 For the first time this year,

I pull weeds in the garden.

The ground is just the right wet and

I can't resist.
I also cut the spinach, Swiss chard, and kale.

 A killer for knees.
I hobbled around for the rest of the day like an old approaching 80-year-old woman.*

 DeRay has set up, planted, transplanted, and weeded the entire garden alone.

 He goes out each evening until dark.

 DeRay's artwork in protecting the day's labor.

     DeRay, Amy, and I sit on our front porch looking at the new driveway, visiting, waving at passers-by; watching the sunset. We rarely, if ever, sit out in the evenings, but we are celebrating a great accomplished today.

It won't be long.


Photos by Amy and Jeanette

*Whenever I say I can't remember something

or  have forgotten something

or can't do something

Eddy says:

"That's because you're approaching 80."