WHO DESERVES BETTER? YOU, YOU, AND YOU

I’ve taken a poll with the question ‘who deserves better.’

The results?

Everyone deserves better.

Shocking?

I know. Here’s how it works:

If everyone thought their lives were getting better by the slightest margin, what happens?

They’ll think they can make it even a little better, then a little more, until they get to a place where they can help others get a little better.

These people are better neighbors, better workers, better friends.

If you know someone you admire and respect for the way they live their lives, count yourself lucky.

You don’t need to grovel or submit to your betters, but you should learn something by their example.

 

What happens when you find a leak in your water heater in the garage that’s leaving a stream like an elephant peed in there?

Common sense says there’s a problem that probably won’t solve itself.

That’s the first step, acknowledging the problem, not wishing it away, not looking for the elephant, not shutting the door.

If there are three leak potentials, and leaking from the bottom of the tank is a death knell, what’s next?

This once happened in my garage. I called a plumber and they removed and replaced the old rig.

That’s when my lovely neighbor looked in and said, “You hired someone for a water heater? Ha. You’ve got more money than brains.”

I solved one problem only to find my solution created another: the guy showed his jackassness, which didn’t surprise me.

When someone is critical, but offer nothing else, what’s the point?

I deserved better? I thought so.

 

Money And Brains

You never know how important basics are until they’re gone or don’t work.

My dishwasher went out just before Thanksgiving? No problem.

My nickname growing up was Dishwasher and I didn’t forget how it’s done.

It was a big Thanksgiving crowd, so the kitchen was packed and stacked.

I’ll be honest, it was refreshing to see who pitched in.

 

Kid: My hot water heater is leaking out of the bottom.

Me: Oh no.

Kid: Yep.

Me: What do you want to do?

Kid: I’m putting in a new one.

Me: Who you going to call?

Kid: Doing it myself.

Me: Really?

Kid: It doesn’t look impossible.

Me: Okay, I’ll finish up my latest post on boomerpdx and come over.

Kid: What are you writing about?

Me: Sorrow.

Kid: Can’t wait to read it. See you in a few.

 

A Day That Deserves Better

Instead of calling a plumber and getting bids, the plan was going water heater shopping.

Home Depot? An assortment of appliances with no guidance.

George Morlan The Water Heater King? We had a sales guy in thirty seconds.

 

We serve all of the Portland/Salem Metro area, including:

Albany • Aloha • Aurora • Banks • Beaverton • Canby • Cedar Hills • Clackamas • Cornelius • Damascus • Dayton • Dundee • Estacada • Fairview • Farmington • Forest Grove • Gladstone • Gresham • Happy Valley • Hillsboro • Hood River • Hubbard • Keizer • King City • Lake Oswego • Milwaukie • Molalla • Newberg • Oregon City • Portland • Rainier • Roy • Salem • St. Helens • Sandy • Scappoose • Sherwood • Silverton • Troutdale • Tualatin • West Linn • Wilsonville • Woodburn

AND ALL POINTS IN-BETWEEN.

(Some locations may require an additional trip charge. Call for details.)

 

 

We got a water heater in the back of the Highlander and went back to his place, stopping for beer at Plaid Pantry on the way.

After a pint in a glass, we got started.

This is what we learned:

Buy new flex pipes for the top with cold water in and hot water out. The old ones may look fine and all, but the washers inside may be corroded and leak.

We figured it out after taking them off, putting them back on, and taking them off again.

Alway wrap the threads in tape.

We figured out after taking it apart again and putting it back together.

Replace the gas hose and wrap the threads.

Screw the pressure release into the top. Wrap the threads.

I’m not saying we did everything twice. Sometimes it was three times, which is fine because we didn’t break anything or give up.

What’s better than that?

 

The Final Touch

This is where things separate between the men and the boys.

One of us wrapped their arms around the old tank and lifted it off, then wrapped up the new one and placed it up off the ground.

It wasn’t me, but I spotted the lift.

It reminded me of this story:

 

Ask Alexander Karelin to name his greatest challenge, and he will tell you about the time he outwrestled a refrigerator that weighed nearly twice as much as he did.

Clamping a bear hug on the appliance, the 6-ft. 3-in., 286-lb. Russian hoisted it off the floor. “It was a huge fridge,” he recalls, “and I carried it to my apartment up eight flights of stairs.”

 

Calling someone, or knowing you can call, is momentum in getting things done.

Sometimes a momentum boost is all it takes.

If you think to yourself, ‘that deserves better than it’s getting,’ maybe look for a way to help just a little and it might be enough.

Leave a comment on the new yard sculpture.