So, finding yourself suddenly single after 15 years of marriage brings on more challenges than you would think. Dating is probably the most obvious one. But now, here I was, having gone from my parents’ house to a house with a husband and now all of a sudden I have all this house maintenance to deal with and things to fix. I am not an idiot but have to admit that while having a man around I didn’t learn certain things. Now all of a sudden, I feel like I am on a reality show like Survivor, with the world watching to see if I flop, and I am all alone to figure this stuff out.
Things most people don’t think about and seem pretty simple, threw me for a loop. Out one day my tire was low in my car and I realized I had never gone to the gas station and put air in a tire. How did I get to my age and never do this? How do I work the machine and will I look like an idiot there if I can’t figure it out? Fortunately I did have a friend that came to show me and didn’t laugh too much, at least not to my face. Who knows what he did when he got back in his truck and drove away. I even learned how to operate my own air compressor. It wasn’t difficult and I knew it wouldn’t be, but when you’ve never had to do something and you are suddenly thrust into it, it’s a bit intimidating.
As I have figured out more and more, my confidence about my ability to manage all of the different maintenance things in my life has grown. Yes, there are some things I really do need a man’s help with, but I impressed myself by how much I was able to do on my own.
Next case in point was the battle of my pool last summer. A story of which most of you are probably already familiar as it was a daily struggle for me for a while. I considered going back to college to become a chemist or an engineer or both.
I have a wonderful pool company that I would like to recommend to anyone in need of pool service in my area. I believe that they have my photo on the wall in the employee office, but, that being said, they were so patient and helpful to me, no matter how many times I went in there or had to have them come out. In the end, I did it! You should have seen me sitting outside with rubber gloves and needle-nose pliers with the pump apart and my arms stuffed up a PVC pipe digging out the crap jamming that thing! Ha!
I figured out the lawn mower, the snow blower (that was fun), my finicky sprinkler system, and how to re-set my furnace. I want to use the chainsaw to cut down some branches this spring, but that seems to scare the crap out of my friends and cause them to lecture me about cutting off my arm or something. Okay then, feel free to come on over to help me out!
I could still really use a hand with some of these things. The snow blower weighs more than I do and there were times where I wondered who was really in control. Forget the sprinkler system. Found a company to take care of that, and I have been yelled at by about everyone I know to not handle a chainsaw! I can handle the pool but it would be nice if I didn’t have to. A “pool boy” could be fun anyway. Maybe I am a perfect example of why all these “Rent a hubby” businesses are doing so well. I think a condo may be in my future. For now, I am collecting business cards and have them posted to a bulletin board right here in front of my face. I should probably have them programmed into my phone on speed dial. Maybe I will get my son to do that. ;)
Really, I do laugh about these things and at myself and I hope you all will too. If you can’t laugh at these things, life would get pretty depressing.
