Quick as a wink...

My friend Judy graciously volunteered the services of her husband, Charlie, to help Richard finish the washing machine projected that ended unexpectedly last Thursday when he and the platform yielded to the forces of gravity, and it landed on his hand.

I am pleased to say that after icing and wrapping with an elastic bandage that it no longer resembles a boxing glove.  His knuckles have reappeared and the skin on the back of his hand once again looks like the skin of a man who is on the far side of 60…

I helped Richard move the platform in front of the basement door using an old cart Richard had made for our generator. Why he did not use the cart to move the platform in the first place is one of those small mysteries. He got things squared away so that it would be convenient for Charlie to swing by on Friday morning on their way home after the aerobics class – he comes with Judy and walks on the treadmill while we flail around on the other side of the curtain that divides the large room. Richard was sorely tempted to move the washing machine himself, but because he had arranged for Charlie to come, he wisely, did not attempt it. He surely would have hurt himself again.

I prepared for the event by watching a few excerpts from the Red Green show and making sure the roll of duct tape was handy.

Judy and Charlie arrived, and Richard and Charlie disappeared almost immediately out the back door. Judy and I visited for a minute or two discussing wintering-over care of the impatiens plant that I grew from some starts she gave me...

and doing quite well in front of the window in Richard’s office, and then I grabbed the camera and we went down to the basement to document the event.

The door to the basement was shut. We stood there for a few seconds, wondering if we should open it and go in, when suddenly it opened, and they walked out. We did not get a chance to supervise. The job was done.

Now he has to attach the hoses and we must read the instructions on how to operate the thing. Both of have a habit of not reading instructions first, but I think it might be a good idea this time.