Sequels

Sequel to Easter Blog.

Months later, I found the crowning glory in the house our renters left so immaculate last Easter.

Cloves under the sink in a net bag tied with a red ribbon.

Sequel to lost camera.

Just this morning,

DeRay found Amy's camera

that we could never find after family reunion

in July.

It didn't get thrown out with the newspapers;

nothing ever has been thrown out with the newspapers;

it's the first accusation

always.

In its black case exactly

like DeRay's test strips for blood sugar,

it has been safely

sheltered on the same shelf.

Camouflaged.

Sneaky.

Resolved.

Too late.

She loves her new camera.

 Sequel to Shower Remodeling:

 

Thanks to Brooke for a great summer's work.

Sequel to Dejunking:  

Last but not least, the garage.

It's not perfect by a long shot, but it's 99% better than it was.

 At least all the insecticides are together and all the oil and auto parts.

 The ceiling.

DeRay hasn't been on his recumbent trike for 15 years but he can't stand to part with it.

At least five trips to DI and more full garbage cans.

Ah, it's so liberating,

emancipating,

redeeming.

I can't even express the relief.

Who would think we'd become slaves to our junk?

Thank You Kind Lady from the Dude Ranch in Montana

who inspired me to

begin this quest.

The Waterbed

We had one more shelf to go in the shower.  We hoped they’d delay even more because we didn’t have to pay in full until the job was completed.  DeRay forgot to tell me that they called and said the workman was on his way over.  Of course, he didn’t hear the doorbell.  It rang twice.  I finally grabbed Amy’s robe and went to answer the door.  There stood a grubby man.  He knew it too because he shoved the work order in my face as credentials.  “DeRay!”  “Oh, yes, I forgot they called.”  DeRay shows him the shower.  I find him electricity outside; he finishes the job and leaves.

Soon the doorbell rings again.  

“I just noticed the waterbed in your trailer.  Are you throwing it away?”

“We’re taking it to the dump today.”

“I have a bladder but those drawers look lots better than the ones I have.”

By now I’m dressed and I call out the door, “DeRay, give him the headboard in the basement too.”

We had thought we would attach it to the new bed but if someone could use it, we’d gladly part with it.  I just didn’t want to send it to the dump.

“Oh, thank you so very much,” he gushed.  “I am so appreciative.”

He got the plywood from the deck, the headboard from the basement and loaded all those drawers and frame onto his truck and thanked us profusely over and over again.

I felt so happy.

Our waterbed had a home and didn’t die at the dump.

Then that night when I couldn’t sleep, I went down to the kitchen.  We don’t necessarily close our blinds at night so I felt vulnerable in the eeriness of the quiet night.  And I kept thinking I could see this grungy man, who on first sight reminded me of pictures of Brian David Mitchell, lurking at the backdoor.

I’m sure he was just as honorable as he was polite.

Why am I so jaded?

Why couldn’t I just be happy (like I felt) that someone wanted the discarded waterbed?

Havoc

I leave town for one little week and my kids

and grandkids wreak havoc with my house

using sledge hammers, chisel, crowbars, shovels, and muscle power.

 It gets ugly.

 Bigger mess than they anticipated.

They threw the concrete blocks from the second story bathroom window

to waiting boxes on the patio below.

 

They still carried buckets of debris down the stairs to the garbage.

 Who would think one little shower

would be so difficult to demolish?

 

Husky Isaak.

Hi mother always said he was a slim.

 Brooke accidentally cut the copper pipe

Water leaked through the kitchen light below.

 The repair job.

Instead of DeRay stopping this insanity;

he was co-conspirator;

buying face masks to combat the dust and debris

and running to the hardware store for parts.

While he was at the store

Brooke called to say,

the main bathroom toilet was spewing water

 

 soaking the bathroom in the basement below.

 

More fun than they bargained for.

Wednesday the plumber comes.

Same day Brooke tiles the bathroom floor.

In a couple of weeks,

a new, enlarged shower.

**KABOOM**

Document photography by Brooke himself.