So I was puttering around the house yesterday, doing laundry, getting ready for a trip south to a job. Dorie, a friend’s wife, came wandering back through the yard calling, “Anybody home?” She told me that Stu, her hubby, was in the middle of re-plumbing their house for gas and was stuck. Stu is a decent construction laborer but is no plumber. Now Stu has done some work on our house in the last year and we paid him a nice wage for his efforts, so I thought I could return the favor. I went with her.
Turns out, Stu was stuck. He’s got part of the defective black pipe removed and a new trench dug. I found him walking around the house with a tape measure, looking forlorn.
No worries. I called and postponed my trip until today and we got moving. I spent the day with him and we got it all plumbed and ready for a 24 hour test. At the end of the day I was rolled up and ready to head home when Stu came up to me. He stuck out an empty hand and said, “Thanks, MonkeyMensch!”
For a quick blink I heard,
[Bill Murray, Caddyshack]
Hey, Lama! How about a little sumpin’, for da effort?
[/Bill Murray, Caddyshack]
And then I shook his hand, smiled and said, “Anytime, Stu.” And I meant it.
People have kind to me in this past year: Family and friends mostly, but a few that I barely knew. At times they were back-breakingly kind, though I don’t deserve consideration more than anyone else does. I don’t believe in karma, at least not the kind that gets you paid back in a month or two. I never saw Pay It Forward though I know what the title refers to. I simply felt terrific, feather light, Christmas morning rosy.
When I got home I called my brother, told him I loved him, and appreciated his help. Then I called my brother-of-a-different-mother and told him the same. I have been out of work for three months now and am dirt poor, but I’m feeling pretty rich today.
