Call the Roofer
Rain poured down, Chester barked running in circles, and I heard rushing waters off the front gutters. "There's a small stream of water on the basement floor. Maybe it's coming from the front stoop," Matthew reported. I hurried downstairs, and saw a small mouse pad sized puddle along the front wall, and a long jagged line of water across the floor ending at the steps. My daughter, Parmisan, and I moved everything in its path, set up the humidifier for the night. I decided to call the roofer the next day.
Even though the leak had dried up by the next day, I still called the roofer. I felt this might just get worse the longer I wait. If the gutters worked properly, water were not gushing off the sides of the house, we might not have the flooding.
When the roofer finally came, I met a chunky man, with an unusual asymmetrical face. His nose was a bit crooked, his mouth a bit to the side of the nose, so that it seemed the upper portion of the face looked one direction, the mouth another. Sometimes men have unusual facial expressions, especially when they have had facial hair. I believe this man had worn a beard and a mustache in the past, since he spoke with a "stiff" upper lip, drawing back his cheeks so they puffed out. He spoke as if he still had a full beard, not using his mouth in the way a woman might, but very expressive with his eyes and eyebrows. When he spoke it seemed there were words a bit mispronounced. Had this middle aged man come from a foreign country, or was this a regional accent?
Chester was a bit agitated at the sight of the portly stranger. He barked, not wanting to be calmed. I waited for the roofer to climb up the ladder to check the roof. I heard the footsteps across the roof, and wondered what he would tell me.
The next sounds ... bumps and thumps were the unfortunate noise of a person ending up on the bushes at the side of the house. I am glad my house is only one floor high, and the distance is a short ladder from the ground. It was a scare. I rushed him to the nearest hospital to await for the results of x-rays and doctor tests. I was anxious to say the least. I was grateful to have Parmisan along, so that we could keep each other company in this stressful time.
"I hope he is not hurt," she said.
"His knee was so red and swollen. I hope nothing else is seriously injured."
"Let's talk about the holidays. Do we have plans already for Thanksgiving? I vote for turkey this year."
Parmisan asked about who all would be at the dinner, and I suggested, "I think Thom, you, Matthew, Cassy, Erin, and the two little ones will be here. That makes eight counting me. We will need to use the family room table and extra chairs this year. I'll let Cassy make the gravy and you make the sweet potatoes. I love Oprah's recipe with honey and cinnamon and ginger."
WE see the injured one wheeled into the waiting room, and find out that his knee is the only serious issue. He will need to take it easy for a while, and then have a chance for a total recovery. I am overjoyed!
The man with the stiff upper lip responds, "I think I need to be ready to go for the holidays!"
"I hope so! Do you need a ride home? I don't think you can drive with that swollen knee. I am glad to help."
"No thanks, I will have my son come and pick me up. He and my wife will drive my truck home. I have to get the truck home, but thanks for the help!"
We drive home. It is a blue sky sunny day, cool but beautiful. At home I see a dozen plants under the old pine tree. Cassy had donated some dying irises and lilies to me, and Thom had volunteered to plant them. the yard is looking so much better with the plants around the tree. Later Thom weeds the area around the bird bath and the trellis, and creates a bed for the remaining plants. I am so excited for the new flower beds. it will be so beautiful in the spring. I need to place mulch on the new beds, protect them in this winter, and keep the grass and weeds down.
I will start bird watching this week, so I purchased a lot of seed, a few cakes for the woodpeckers, and fill the tubes for the birds. I have not seen a single bird yet, but a silly squirrel was eyeing the seeds the moment I put them out. I made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and took them to the sixth grade football banquet. I took photos of Weslee and the trophy and the coach. It was a great day!
Even though the leak had dried up by the next day, I still called the roofer. I felt this might just get worse the longer I wait. If the gutters worked properly, water were not gushing off the sides of the house, we might not have the flooding.
When the roofer finally came, I met a chunky man, with an unusual asymmetrical face. His nose was a bit crooked, his mouth a bit to the side of the nose, so that it seemed the upper portion of the face looked one direction, the mouth another. Sometimes men have unusual facial expressions, especially when they have had facial hair. I believe this man had worn a beard and a mustache in the past, since he spoke with a "stiff" upper lip, drawing back his cheeks so they puffed out. He spoke as if he still had a full beard, not using his mouth in the way a woman might, but very expressive with his eyes and eyebrows. When he spoke it seemed there were words a bit mispronounced. Had this middle aged man come from a foreign country, or was this a regional accent?
Chester was a bit agitated at the sight of the portly stranger. He barked, not wanting to be calmed. I waited for the roofer to climb up the ladder to check the roof. I heard the footsteps across the roof, and wondered what he would tell me.
The next sounds ... bumps and thumps were the unfortunate noise of a person ending up on the bushes at the side of the house. I am glad my house is only one floor high, and the distance is a short ladder from the ground. It was a scare. I rushed him to the nearest hospital to await for the results of x-rays and doctor tests. I was anxious to say the least. I was grateful to have Parmisan along, so that we could keep each other company in this stressful time.
"I hope he is not hurt," she said.
"His knee was so red and swollen. I hope nothing else is seriously injured."
"Let's talk about the holidays. Do we have plans already for Thanksgiving? I vote for turkey this year."
Parmisan asked about who all would be at the dinner, and I suggested, "I think Thom, you, Matthew, Cassy, Erin, and the two little ones will be here. That makes eight counting me. We will need to use the family room table and extra chairs this year. I'll let Cassy make the gravy and you make the sweet potatoes. I love Oprah's recipe with honey and cinnamon and ginger."
WE see the injured one wheeled into the waiting room, and find out that his knee is the only serious issue. He will need to take it easy for a while, and then have a chance for a total recovery. I am overjoyed!
The man with the stiff upper lip responds, "I think I need to be ready to go for the holidays!"
"I hope so! Do you need a ride home? I don't think you can drive with that swollen knee. I am glad to help."
"No thanks, I will have my son come and pick me up. He and my wife will drive my truck home. I have to get the truck home, but thanks for the help!"
We drive home. It is a blue sky sunny day, cool but beautiful. At home I see a dozen plants under the old pine tree. Cassy had donated some dying irises and lilies to me, and Thom had volunteered to plant them. the yard is looking so much better with the plants around the tree. Later Thom weeds the area around the bird bath and the trellis, and creates a bed for the remaining plants. I am so excited for the new flower beds. it will be so beautiful in the spring. I need to place mulch on the new beds, protect them in this winter, and keep the grass and weeds down.
I will start bird watching this week, so I purchased a lot of seed, a few cakes for the woodpeckers, and fill the tubes for the birds. I have not seen a single bird yet, but a silly squirrel was eyeing the seeds the moment I put them out. I made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and took them to the sixth grade football banquet. I took photos of Weslee and the trophy and the coach. It was a great day!
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| Wes and 6th grade trophy |
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| Coach and Wes |
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