Five months ago today Karl and I closed on our ‘new’ Cheyenne house and began the work of remodeling it. As I mentioned, due to the cold weather a couple of weeks back, we moved into the house, but it isn’t done. Mostly what is undone is cosmetic detail…woodwork, door and window casings, things like that. The one big undone has been the kitchen. We were all excited last Monday because the guys came to install our kitchen counter. We anticipated that by Tuesday we’d have a fully functioning kitchen. This was just not to be. Background: as part of the remodel Karl replaced all the sewer lines in the house. All that is except one. Yes one. The drain in the wall for the kitchen sink. He inspected it and decided that since it was a solid-looking and substantial steel pipe that would be a royal pain to replace even before the new sheet rock went on, that it would be fine.
Back to last week…after getting everything hooked up, we poured some water in the kitchen sink and discovered that the steel pipe had a hidden split in it. Drat. (and other, stronger and more vehement words that I won’t quote). We were disheartened to say the least. Discouraged and daunted, Karl went back to putting in window casings while he worked up the energy to take out brand new, pristine sheet rock in order to replace that pipe. Who needs a kitchen sink anyway.
Enter the hero of this story. Picture Karl’s cousin and best friend, Cliff riding in on a white horse (okay, it’s really a white pick-up), armed with instruments of plumbing war and a smile. He took over the project with knowledge and good humor. It took him three days, but now we now have a new pipe in the wall and as I am writing, Karl is hooking up the sink. Because such action is just who he is, Cliff will undoubtedly deny his hero status, but Karl and I know the truth. True friendship, true kindness, the best of humanity is exemplified in each sacrifice of time and talent willingly offered. This week, we are thankful to be the recipients of it.
