Injunuity 101

“Injunuity 101”

Within the last 30 mins your madre would have made your grandpa, Skeeter, smile a lot and certainly would have had his nodding approval.

I guess I should start the story from about two hours ago.  Dad had left about 6:10 A.M. to drive to Preston Mesa or White Mesa, I actually forgot which for the moment, but that is only a small detail.  In any case it was another of many days alone.

I was not however without company, at 6:20 A. M.  the first visitor arrived while I was in dispose.  I quickly finished and ran to the door where I asked from behind the locked  door who it was.  A voice answered that they were looking for Elder Olson.  With that response I opened it and found 3 men standing on the other side.  They again repeated that they were looking for Elder Olson and I quickly asked if it was about the grave dedication.  They smiled and said, “Yes.”  I said that he had remembered and had left ten minutes ago.  They again smiled, apologized for disturbing me and left.

Dad actually ended up dedicating two graves, but this really isn’t a major part of my story for now anyway.  Just thought I would add why he was gone today.

Later in the morning the Elders came by and asked if I had “free time” to show them how to get started with their own family history.  I was actually working on getting a rug ready, so I told them I would be available in 20 mins.  When I did go over I was able to get Elder Lewis going while the other 3 were writing about this amazing experience that they have been having with one of the families we referred them to.  Another great story but not a major part of this one. ;o}

While over there I practiced the piano and although I am not good yet, it is getting better.  The Bishop and his family were cleaning the church so I helped a little and then came home.  Since I had not eaten any breakfast I proceeded to eat my way through the fridge with the leftovers from feeding the Elders last night, finishing with a pint of ice cream, which I totally wish I had not done.

That part was actually important however.  I decided I was very tired and since Dad was gone and it was a good day for a nap I laid down.  Before laying down I took off my earrings while I was taking care of something else in the bathroom and laid them on the sink with the little backs right with them. It would have only taken a second longer to put them on the shelf, but did I listen to that little voice, Oh no!  I went straight in and laid down.

The phone then rang 4 times and feeling the sense of responsibility that I do I got up and checked to make sure it wasn’t an emergency. It was actually two people who had called twice, but since I had the ear plugs in I did not hear all the rings.  I did call to make sure it wasn’t really that important, and it wasn’t so I again laid down.

I actually fell asleep and had one of those “nightmarish” type dreams and then woke up with a start.  I headed back to the bathroom and picked up the earrings managing to pop both the “backs” down the drain.  In a normal life that would not have been so awful, but when you only have two backs and the nearest Walmart is 75 miles away it was an “Oh c—p!” moment.

Instead of going into the “Woe is me how can I get Dad to open the drain” thoughts I quickly ran through a list of what I could say to guilt him into taking it apart without too many glaring looks from him directed to me while he was saying he didn’t really mind because he loved me so much.  (We all know what that really means though, right?)

Meanwhile, you need to know that I had awaken with leg cramps in the back of both thighs and they escalated in pain when I first went into the bathroom and then hobbled my way into the kitchen getting salt water as quickly as I could without screaming.  My stomach was in a bad way from indulging in all the left overs and I could not stand up straight. It’s kinda funny how hard the leg cramps became  when the “backs” went into the drain.

This all had happened since staggering from the bed and there was not one sympathetic soul anywhere to listen to me scream from the pain of the leg cramps and the agony of flipping both earring “backs” into the sink drain in one simple move as I picked them up to put on the shelf.

OK, I hobble back into the bathroom and go to plan B.  I wonder if I can tangle a small magnet down and bring them up.  Well, that does not work, too much gunk down there, which is extremely gross, trust me.

Now we go to plan C  I actually open the cupboard door and look at how things are put together under there.  Well, miracles still happen.  The pieces are actually plastic with screw on fitting parts. By then the cramps are on their way out and I can actually get to the floor. 

Some unseen person  was close because I hear this little voice pointing out that there will be water in those fittings.  Ah yes, the small waste can is lined with plastic and will fit under there.  I had tried turning the fittings and I could actually do it without much effort. Fortunately the voice whispered before I turned them too far.   I do take the stuff out of the waste can, which was also smart and then proceed.  It is indeed filled with very yucky fluid.   As it quickly drains,  I hear this faint little thunk, but only one thunk.  So now I have to decide if I really am that desperate.  I decide I am.  A few minutes working in a “groody mess” or a 150 mile trip to Walmart.  It took a little effort, and two false stabs and what appears to be a “back”, but finally there it is, the other “back”.  Yippee Skippy, and lots of thanks to the unseen mentors.

I did wash out the drain part with lots of hot water and bleach and a bottle scrub brush.  I then put it back which was also quite easy once I figured out which way to turn it (the whisperings you know).  I clean up the few drops that escaped going into the waste can.  I also soak the “backs” and scrub them.  This time I make sure there is something covering the drain, just in case.

I am not suggesting that I am a genius or anything, far from it, BUT I had the satisfaction of knowing I (or should I say, all the ancestors who are assigned to watch over me so I don’t mess up to bad trying to make my way back) figured it out.  I certainly can’t say I did it alone although I could not see all the ones who were giving me advice and rolling their eyes. ( Actually most of my kids and in-laws have this approach to solving problems already figured out. I am just the slow learner in the family, unless you are doing a crochet project)

Dad was happy to know that he did not have to do it.  His gag reflect is actually much lower or higher whichever one means he gags more quickly than I do at least over things like that.  You all know what makes me gag and it isn’t yucky water.

Well, this story is simple like me, but I thought you might be amused by reading it and remembering your dear aging mother and how she is learning to go more quickly  to “solution mode”  instead of spending too much time in the “Woe is me” phase of problem solving.

Love,

Mom