I hope everyone had a reflective and relaxing long Memorial
Day weekend. Note, I didn't say happy because Memorial Day is not really a day
to be happy. It is a time to reflect. It is a time to remember. It is a time
where we think about those who died so that this country could continue to
exist. Those colonists who fought for freedom from tyranny during the Revolutionary
war. Those Union soldiers who fought so that people of color would no longer be
enslaved. Those who fought fascism (definition:
populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the
Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is
associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial
leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation
and by forcible suppression of opposition) in both World Wars so that we could
continue to pursue life, liberty and happiness. To those courageous men and women,
we owe a debt of gratitude.
However, I know for a lot of people it's the unofficial
start of summer. Unfortunately, that's not exactly what happened here in the
Northeast. It was rainy and cold for most of the weekend. Not the kind of days
where you could be outside enjoying nature.
On Memorial Day, I returned from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.
I was supposed to be in the office in Newark on Tuesday. However, as I was
halfway back to my home in New Jersey, I got a text from my manager saying that
we did not have to be in after all. A nice surprise. It would have been nicer
if I learned it earlier, but you take what you can get.
I was able to spend some time with my son, which is really
nice. He has been working hard at finding work for the summer, and it looks
like he has several options which is a good thing. All of this we discussed
over dinner, which I had time to make, which is also nice. If I had been
working in Newark, it would have been more difficult to get a meal
together.
As usual after dinner and cleaning up, I was tired, so I
went to go take a shower. I stepped out of the shower, and I could hear water
running from the toilet that we had in the basement. No big deal. But then
after a few minutes I realized it was still running. So, I yelled down to my
son to jiggle the handle on the basement toilet to stop it from running. And
that's when everything went south.
My son yelled up to me that I needed to come downstairs,
that we had a big problem. (Which turned out to be an understatement. I was still wrapped in a towel and putting on pajamas,
so it took me a few minutes. I also want to throw on some slippers. Then I
charged downstairs to the basement and saw the mess.
I'm not exactly sure where the water was coming from, I
think it was overflowing from the toilet bowl, but I wasn't looking really
closely. I leaned in to jiggle the handle and my son said don't, but I did. And
that made it worse. Water was going everywhere.
The two of us were trying not to panic. It wasn't working. I
know enough to know that there is a valve for the water to the toilet on the
bottom left-hand side. So, I made my son go in and turn it. He didn't know what
he was doing, but it seemed to stop the water and that's a good thing.
Then I decided to call my husband who was still in
Pennsylvania in a panic. Because although I thought we had the situation under
control I want someone to confirm that we had done the right thing. And we had.
But still there was quite a mess in the basement.
My son went in with the wet vac to sop up the water that was
all over the floor. (and there was a lot of water) I went back upstairs and
called the plumber. I knew they wouldn't answer, but I wanted to try
anyway.
I could have gotten someone if I had thought it was an
emergency. But at this point I didn’t feel it was one. It was a nuisance. It
was a mess. But it wasn't an emergency. So instead, I left a voicemail and
prayed that someone would call me back first thing in the morning..
I didn't sleep too well that night. I was worried about the
water and the toilet issue, but as I haven't yet mentioned, when I was upstairs
I slammed my little toe of my right foot against a piece of metal and I think
it might be broken. Or maybe just seriously bruised. I can’t tell and I know
they do nothing for little toes. But the blankets touching it was semi painful,
so I didn't get much sleep.
First thing Tuesday morning I called the plumber again. Their
office opens at 7:30 and on my second try, I managed to get a hold of somebody.
A plumber could be there between noon and 2:00 p.m. All I had to do was wait
and pray that it wouldn't cost too much. (You know it's going to cost too
much.)
My prayers were NOT answered as it did not turn out to be
"simple” (What ever is?) They had to snake out my sewer line, only
they were not able to do it completely. There were so many roots and
entanglements (from the town tree that is in front of my house), that the snake
couldn't handle it. That service was over $1000. They have to come
back today and try again with a camera to see what they are up against. I
know that's going to be costly too. But the worst thing is that most
likely they are going to have to dig up/excavate the front lawn and replace the
pipe. The tech couldn't even give me a ballpark figure for that. (I
think he didn't want to see me cry.)
We can use the water in the house. The tech said to
use as little as possible. We're trying.
(It’s not pretty.)
And I'm trying to keep it together. I'm failing.
I KNOW this isn't the worst thing in the world, especially
when I consider the sacrifices that men and women in the military have made and
continue to make. But I am pretty upset and broken inside.
I WILL make it through. My son will make it
through. However, with that said, any positive thoughts or encouragement
would certainly be welcome. I need all the cheering I can get.
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