Author: peterb51

11th December 2019

I was trying to spend a decent amount of time in the garage. I had finished the re-painted dresser, and set aside the drawer-less dresser refurb to try and work on some other more simpler pieces.

Kelli had painted a small bookcase earlier and already had a buyer after it.

There was a small cabinet that needed the door repairing.

As I looked at the piece I realised the amount of work required to make it worth selling. Apart from the door, the carcass looked like it had been made from old boards with holes and chunks missing, it was a real piece of shit. So this will be known as POS, and will be another labour of love.

Kelli had been at her mothers for most of the day, and I could tell the lack of sleep, had finally caught up with her.

We drove into town and had something to eat at New Holland Brewery.

10th December 2019

Today it snowed. I woke up to a smattering of snow that covered everything.

Today was the day that Georgia, Kelli’s mother was to have a heart procedure in Grand Rapids.

Kelli has been on tender hooks for weeks caused by a succession of texts messages from her mother. Because of her condition, she suffered irregular heart beats, often leading to anxiety and stress that Kelli absorbed. The date of the procedure, which I cannot go into detail because I would get halfway through and faint, was welcomed.

That did not help with the sleepless nights Kelli endured, but there was an expectation that surgery would cure the condition.

We were due to go to the family house to start the sorting of Dave’s workshop, which was convenient as the house was empty.

I met up with Matt, and we went into the basement and started to empty the drawers.

We didn’t have a clue what we were going to do with any of it. I started filling boxes with hammers, screwdrivers and every conceivable tool that he collected over his life.

Matt found Dave’s old school and college report cards plus more old photographs, many taken before I was born.

Kelli was upstairs searching for the Christmas decorations to hang up and make the place festive for Georgia’s return.

After many hours we barely scratched the surface, but at least we had made a start.

We drove to Grand Rapids for our shift.

The operation was in the morning, and that was followed by four hours laying on her back.

The staff would sit her upright followed by some walking exercises.

Getting to the Meijer Heart hospital was a major task in itself. We followed the satnav but it took us to the huge hospital building, but no signs for the place we wanted.

I ended up walking in and asking for assistance, something that a man rarely wants to do.

The friendly staff produced a map which showed the car park and entrance to the heart hospital.

With a few more stops to get directions we reached the room where Georgia was resting.

This type of procedure is very common and that showed by the number of people shuffling along the corridors taking their exercise.

The number of flapping gowns I saw, revealing certain parts not meant to be seen in public was a little unsettling, but I survived.

We spent three hours in the hospital waiting for the doctors to allow her out.

I collected the truck and waited at the entrance for Kelli and Georgia to appear.

The drive back was good, despite the snow.

We decided that she should stay with us for the night just in case anything happened, I doubt that we would have been any real use. The emergency services would have had to step over both our fainted bodies.

9th December 2019

Rolled up my sleeves again and worked in the garage. It’s so much different from the old place where as soon as the temperature dropped it was impossible to work for more than fifteen minutes before my hands froze.

This is luxury compared to that, the small heater provides enough heat to keep the chill off.

Later in the afternoon Kelli dropped me at Menards to purchase some adhesive and paint whilst she went off to do things Kelli does best. “Could you pick up some bird and Squirrel food as well”

So she handed me a large carrier bag, and we agreed to meet at the nearby Starbucks in an hour. So off I went to do my chores.

I was finished quickly, so packing the bags of seeds into my carrier bag, I grabbed the handles which were longer than I thought. Fully loaded the bag hovered about half an inch from the ground constantly banging my ankles.

I had to cross a patch of grass to get to Starbucks. As I proceeded I noticed that the ground was a little soft, as I went further it became boggy, and I was sinking, the bag was now rubbing on the ground, so not only did I have to drag myself through the bog, I had the bloody bag to worry about.

I must have looked a sad case to the people waiting at the drive through this poor guy dragging a Christmas decorated carrier bag, slowly sinking into the quagmire.

Most waited around to see if I disappeared from sight, leaving behind the bags of bird seeds

I managed to reach firm ground, leaving my muddy footprints on the floor of the coffee shop. The bag handles had stretched so much that it was constantly dragging along the ground.

I was making a dragging noise from where I placed my order to where I had to collect it, many people looked up, I smiled and uttered the excuse “dead dog”

8th December 2019

I made a start on the drawerless dresser. I intended to add three small drawers along the top. I was able to salvage the runners for the new positions, and I had plywood left over from another job to make a floor, so things were looking promising for a low cost restoration.

In the afternoon we took the dogs to the park for exercise, well mostly for us.

I wanted to run up the steps and see how many I could cover before my heart exploded.

It is a wonderful place, but we decided to go off piste and try to find the remains of an old water tower that was covered in graffiti. The climbing up was a strain because there were no steps, but finally we made it.

The return journey was not so easy “you need to find a big stick” Kelli advised. She picked up a branch that looked a bit rotten, I found one that looked like something that Gandalf, from Lord of the Rings, would carry.

We started our decent, I was in front, sticking my staff ahead, supporting my weight. This was working, I could hear a little giggling, as Kelli was trying to control her dog and trying to use the stick. Suddenly she slipped, and fell on to her back, laughing as she fell. This is not unusual, she can trip over her own feet, even though they are so small.

We continued our decent reaching the path with no further incident.

The sun was going down, and we could see a deer standing on the ridge, almost invisible against the trees. Kelli got all excited as she had never seen one there before, it was a fitting end to her arse sliding episode.

7th December 2019

Don arrived early to collect his dresser leaving more space in the garage.

I applied more coats on the other re-paint dresser that should be completed soon.

I am eager to start on something more meaty because painting is getting a bit predictable.

This evening we had a birthday cake party for Greer who will be twenty-two tomorrow.

Kelli had baked an Oreo cheesecake, which tasted sublimed, all those English baking shows certainly paid off.

Kelli’s mum, Georgia arrived with Cameron and brought a collection of old slides and a viewer.

There were a number of pictures of Kelli as a baby which were a riot to see. Many other slides were old family members that I didn’t know, this left me with a strange feeling of solitude, because for a short time, I was on the outside looking in. I have had this feeling before, and it is the only time that I miss being with my friends and family back in the UK.

It doesn’t last long, and I just have to deal with it.

6th December 2019

I went up to the family home with Matt to start the arduous task of sifting through Dave’s treasures.

I went into the basement to sort the vast collection of tools and machinery that had become my second home.

I was hard for me, and very emotional, the first time it hit me. I had tried to keep spirits high during this low period, but the realisation that he wouldn’t be walking down the stairs to see what I was doing, was very difficult for me.

I knew he was passionate about his workshop and I felt I was violating his sacred space by opening drawers packed with his treasures. He had a collection of hand planes of different sizes, numerous screwdrivers, hammers of every weight, chisels, pliers and things for getting Boy Scouts out of horses hooves.

There were so many things I would want to keep, and move down to my workshop, but the thought of getting some of the items up the stairs will require some strong arms.

Matt was upstairs sorting through even more collections.

There were three cardboard boxes full of small oil cans, and enough hunting hardware to arm a small army.

These were just some of the treasures of a man called Dave. Reminders of his military service, notes and drawings from his children, and pictures from his grand children, he kept everything. This was his world that we were uncovering, smiling as we found another drawer full of hammers.

5th December 2019

This is the day of the burial, the day was calm, as if nature knew this was a special day.

The service was just a family affair. There were two members of the military to fold the flag in appreciation of his service to the country.

There were six family members to carry the casket, Matt and his wife Brenda, Kelli and daughter Greer, myself and David, Matt’s son in law. We were instructed on how to remove it from the hearse, I was the first in line so I had to slide it along to the next person. When it got out to the last couple the full weight became apparent. I didn’t realise that Dave wanted to be buried with a full set of tools, or at least that’s what it felt like. I was staggering, saying to myself “ Please don’t drop it”. The ground around was soft, and I could feel my self sinking into the turf. I guess this was Dave’s last joke.

Had I known how much space was left in the grave, I would have dumped the three televisions sets that we have stored in the shed.

The service was simple, but the most moving moment was the folding of the flag. There was precision in how it was done, although they must have done it hundreds for times, I bet they would make mincemeat of a fitted sheet.

As soon as it was over everyone came back to our place for some refreshments.

This was the final act, now the slow adjustment period begins.

4th December 2019

Kelli was off delivering flowers whilst I was in the garage with paintbrush in hand.

I was listening to accounts of Trump’s visit to the UK and why we would allow that. How much money would the air traffic controllers want to divert him to Russia?

There’s a lot going on with the impeachment proceedings, but generally the people here don’t give a stuff, most are putting their faith in a fair election, if that can ever happen.

You can make the most compelling case, in the simplest language, and many will just accept it. No average person here could do the sort of things the President has done, and not gone to jail.

But nothing that is important happens, no gun control, lowering of prescription drugs and the opioid crisis. All the politicians have their sponsors, and “special interest” groups so bills get held up indefinitely, and nobody bothers.

It is so frustrating sometimes when victims are crying out for change and it falls on deaf ears.

So another coat of paint on the drawer fronts, and progress has been made.

We managed to sell two furniture pieces today, one was a small table and the other a small white dresser that we picked up at Goodwill and did nothing to it.

This is the first month since we changed our status to consignment at Our Collective Homes. It’s not hard to understand why sales have dropped off, and that is choices.

Our Collective Homes is sited within another store that sells similar products, it is not a destination in itself. It is merely places on the route through, so indistinguishable from everything else.

I had the idea of stopping customers getting out by creating a maze where they get instructions to leave only when they buy something. The downside of this would be the place would be filled with the skeletons of those too bloody tight to participate.

Another part of America society that I despise is the tipping mentality. A gratuity was a measure or good service, not a means of boosting the pay to a minimum level. I guess over here everything, and everyone depends on it, so why not include it into the cost of the service? I expect it has something to do with tax. I hate being guilted into subsidising the income of someone who needs to earn more, whilst the owners benefit from cheap Labour.

Nobody tips us for delivering furniture, even though they are getting a really good deal.

This is a subject that Kelli and I discuss every time we eat out, and the check comes. Why should I pay for shoddy service? Why should I say the food is great when it isn’t?.

“The waitress cannot live on what she’s paid without tips” is Kelli’s argument, so I have to add twenty percent to a mundane meal simply as an act of charity? If that is the case she’s in the wrong job.

3rd December 2019

A day in the garage sanding and painting drawers ready to complete some of the commission pieces.

I also disassembled the drawerless dresser getting it ready for some extensive re-modelling.

I managed to salvage all the wood parts that will be re-used in “drawerless dresser 2” the return of the dresser with some drawers.

Kelli had to take her mother to various places, so with just the I-pad for company I soldiered on.

She got back pretty tired, I guess being in a car with someone who has health problems, and grieving a loved one can take a lot out of a person.

After one big hint we decided to go into town for something to eat. It just so happened corresponded with the Christmas parade.

The illuminated floats caused unprecedented traffic chaos. Trying to find a parking place was near impossible. We circled around like hungry vultures for a space, but it was not looking good. I suggested that we just stopped and waited until the procession ended. My logic was with the price of petrol here, they would want to drive as fast as they could to finish to save money.

As fate would have it a car pulled out of a space ahead. Kelli was on it slicker than a monkey on a greasy pole, then we noticed it was for a thirty minute stay. This was a dilemma, would anyone be patrolling the place at 7.00pm? We decided I risk it, either it would a great night out, or the most expensive meal ever, we would wait to find out.

We had to send out positive messages that we wouldn’t get a ticket, and sure enough it worked, we had a good time, and cheated the system at the same time.

2nd December 2019

The buyer of the small table came to collect. He was delighted with it, so I didn’t mention the amount of extra work I had to put into it to finish it to the standard I wanted.

We had to meet Matt at the cemetery to pick out the plot for the burial. The cold wind blew across the many lumps of grey granite that stuck out of the ground like jagged teeth.

We found a plot adjacent to a row of trees that bordered the field. It was an appropriate place as Dave did not socialise with strangers easily, so won’t get disturbed by the neighbours.

It was intended to have an extra space next to the plot for expansion, morbid but understandable. The tradition is for the casket to be oriented east to west, with the feet to the east. I thought it would be more appropriate for his feet to point towards Bob Evans, as that was a favourite place for him to have breakfast, but I kept it to myself, nobody likes a smart mouth.

Later that evening we sold the four dining chairs that we got for free. So “four chairs for us”.