EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A "JIM"

Well the family is now safely back in Ohio and I am again adjusted to just me and the critters. We had a really great visit though my back did not co operate and it went out the second day. Such a drama queen that herniated disk is.

I had washed the outside of house before they came and knew I had sprung my back but it took it a day or so to go all the way out. Then it took just one quick twist. It wasn't really bad and as long as I kept liquored up with Ibuprofen and kept moving.  I was in manageable pain during the visit.

Besides bringing their own house in the form of an RV, my brother Jim and  SIL Shirley like to make them selves useful. Shirley was quite helpful with food prep and such which really helped with my bad back problem. Jim has always been fascinated with fixing things and is really good at it.

When I lived in Florida they would come to visit and I would have a list of “to-dos” for Jim. He would have been really hurt if I hadn't. He is the only guy I know that when a repair might prove more difficult than first thought would not get frustrated but would smile and say, “Now it is getting interesting.” Problem solving makes it a sport.

I only had one chore for him, the door on my storm shelter was old and suspect. It needed rebuilding.  He took care of that right away using the lumber I all ready had. I only had to buy some anchors and screws. Then since my house is relatively new, I just didn't have any other problems---or so I thought.

Sometimes we adjust unconsciously to home failures. Once coming through the front door, Jim said “That's it. I've got to fix that.”

'Fix what?' was my thought for I did not realize something wasn't right.

It seems through the years here, the closer on my storm/screen door had gotten loose so that the door slammed quickly. After Jim adjusted it I was surprised to realize I had learned to hesitate slightly and stick out my butt when coming in the door so the storm door had a soft landing. It was a mindless action on my behalf. 

Now that it is fixed and closes slowly, I am having to break that habit of sticking my butt out to catch a door that no longer slams. I am still sticking the butt out but now quickly realize that it is no longer necessary. Lets see, it takes three weeks to break a habit. I should be butt normal in two more weeks.

He fixed a rather long list of things like that that I wasn't aware of being broken but the last thing he did really made my day. For safety reasons, my riding mower will not back up with the blade engaged. It was truly annoying and often kept me from making clean corners. Thanks to Jim, that is no longer a concern.

Now we didn't spend all the time working, we also played so don't feel too badly for Jim and Shirley.

A lot of you are married to a Jim, some of you are Jim or some of you like me, are related to one or have a Jim-like friend. If you don't have one in your life, I hope that is temporary for they are very valuable.

Well I have been away from blogging a long time and will try to catch up. Can't wait to go visit you all and see what had been happening.  I was just about one week away from breaking the blogging habit. Phew, that was close.