Sound of Dripping
Thank goodness, what I hear is dripping water and it is not within our home. The sun is showing the ice cycles who is boss.
Today I walked down to visit my friend June at the end of Stauffer Avenue. June is a bit older than I am and has been a widow for two years. June shared with me that she has a huge project ahead of her. She has had a dripping pipe in her basement that she has put off having it fixed for some time. It was easier for her to check on the bucket under it several times a week. June needs work done in her bathroom as she knows if she wants to stay in her home, it’s time to make it June friendly. I do feel for June.
Making changes in an older home is not always as easy as saying it out loud. It’s been some time ago when there were changes needed in our home. My oh my. If I would have been making notes on a role of toilet paper, it would have taken a role plus. The project didn’t start where I thought it would . . . in the bathroom. It started in realizing our soil pipe that looked like solid copper wasn’t very solid. The entire top of the huge pipe was eaten out. So began the huge project of plumbing, electrical, walls coming down, walls going up. The entire east end of the house was affected.
Now, looking back, that huge project done in love, sweat and tears has given us a home that is senior citizen safe and friendly and will be for some time to come. Thanks Kevin! Many of our friends have moved to assisted living complexes due to the fact their homes were no longer able to allow them safe mobility.
Today, I knocked on one of the Dennis’ grandson’s forehead. Ryan is in charge of measuring and working up bids for nephew Brett’s concrete business. We need to have the steps that service our front door redone. The small area right outside the front door needs to be able to service a walker or a wheelchair to exit the home. No . . . we do not need it right now. If something would happen to Dennis or I . . . it would be too late to get the work done. I have been known to be a bit pushy, as can easily be attested to by my children. It’s time to push those that can get this done before it is needed. No rotting boards, but concrete. Yes, there are plans to use these new steps far longer than the boards of today’s quality.
The things I have just touched on are the things that cause homes to be left behind for a facility. Small investments here and there are minimal compared to the thousands of dollars spent per month because of having to leave a beloved home as it has not changed with the owner’s needs. I have seen it happen to many of our friends.
I am so proud of my friend June wanting to stay in her home that she is working towards continuing to live independently. Dennis and I will continue enjoying our forever home for many more days as glorious such as this one.