Forever Handy

Dec 18, 2009 by Naomi.

I was pleased to arrive home after a delightful visit with Nancy and Jerry — more than two weeks of leisure, watching other home owners struggle with weather and equipment breakdown. I didn’t need that, but then I had nothing to worry about. My house was warm and I could relax. Well almost. I turned on the faucet and the shiny pretty thing just ignored me. I scowled at it but it still did not release water. There is a four letter expletive in here but I leave that to your imagination. So I recalled that Richland had a couple of chilly days — well below freezing. OK so the pipes were frozen. I had not left the faucet dripping and so the water froze. I had thawed pipes before so I took charge. I got a pipe heater and installed it. It warmed so I thought I was home free. Well pardon my ignorance or naiveity. Over night the water did not run. I called the city engineering and had to leave a message. I really expected no help there so what to do?

There is always the Internet and my little “Sheba” was ready. I had heard of the concept of HandyMan therefore I googled Handy Man. Specifically for Richland WA. I learned long past to be careful what I wished for because Internet help would come up for Richlands all over the world, well the US at least. So there he was — a handy man not 10 blocks away. “Give me your zip code so I can put it in my GPS just in case I forget the address” He assured me he would be at 407 Abbot St in twenty minutes. And he was. A big white van pulled up labeled DOUGLAS DO-RIGHT, the Handyman Hero with his image in a big white hat, no less. He actually wore a brown leather hat, just like Crocodile Dundee.

A gas torch was what I expected to use, if I had one. But not a Hero, not one to burn a customers house down. He dug around the foundation skirting until he discovered where the copper pipe came up from the street. Then he had a truly creative idea. Lets look at the meter where the water comes in. OK. When he lifted the cover, (I knew where to help him find that) it fell apart. Down inside the housing for the meter was solid ice. OHO! Out of his realm. He called the city and let them know there was an old lady without water, left me an invoice of $59.56 and that was that. He did remind me to check his website again if ever I needed help with any one of all the wonderful things on his list.

By three pm the city man came and installed a new meter and cover. He let me know I was again connected to water. My houseguest will be delighted that she can count on water for flushing and also for brushing teeth. She might even take showers. Life is grand. So whenever realistic, I make sure it stays that way by using the best technology at my fingertips, the worldwide cyberspace.

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