Home Improvement

June 26, 2013

 

“Home Improvement”

 

Home Improvement was a hit television comedy in the 90’s. It starred Tim Allen as “Tim the Toolman" Taylor and Patricia Richardson, who played his wife, Jill. The writing was quite good and the acting was as well. Earl Hindman’s portrayal of their neighbor, Wilson, whose face was never more than partially revealed, was pure genius. The stories revolved around his television show about home improvement and the rearing of their three sons. One of them, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, was a bit of a teen idol at the time so Home Improvement was one of the few shows that we could watch together as a family with three daughters and never hear a complaint.

 

Now home improvement reality shows are all over the television. There are yard crashers, kitchen hater crashers, Holmes on Homes, Love it or List It. So many shows in fact that there is now a whole channel about home improvement called the DIY network. DIY stands for Do It Yourself.

 

Two years ago, we wanted to replace the carpet in the den with wood flooring. We found a floor we liked and purchased it and we paid someone to install it. I watched with interest as the crew installed it. It didn’t look that difficult to do and the installation was kind of pricey. So I determined that if I ever wanted to install wood flooring again, I would do it myself. I can be a DIYer! Now I am in the process of installing wood flooring in our bedroom and upon reflection I have a few observations.

 

-         There is a reason installers are paid so much money.

-         The flaking on my hands is not leprosy. It is the floor adhesive finally releasing its stubborn grip on my skin.

-         Speaking of skin…it is amazing how much scrubbing with gasoline and mineral spirits hands can take and the skin still remain intact.

-         Measure twice and cut once is more than a cute phrase.

-         Floor adhesive has the amazing ability to transport itself to any other place in the house it chooses.

-         The people at the home improvement store are overly optimistic.

-         When all else fails, read the instructions. Coincidently, the white pamphlet inside each box of flooring contains instructions. Who knew?

-         It will cost more than you think.

-         It will take longer than you expect.

-         Competency in one area of home improvement does not necessarily transfer to another.

-         I have a lot more in common with the “No! Me do it!” phase of child development than I realized.

-         The 1991 song “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. is about a home improvement project. 

-         One “That looks great, honey” from my wife makes it all worth it.

 

Blessings,

 

Jerald

Somebody's Hero

Glimmers

May 31, 2013

 

I continue to reflect on the book “Flags of Our Fathers” by James Bradley. Reading the account of the Marine charge up Mt. Suribachi left me feeling amazed at what they accomplished and what they endured. More Medals of Honor and Navy Crosses were awarded at Iwo Jima than in any other battle in United States history. No other battle produced such a combination of courage and carnage.

 

Surviving heroes were asked why they did what they did. None said they did it for a medal. “I did it for my buddies,” was the common reply. Other-centeredness is at the heart of a hero.

 

I do not at all mean to equate anything to what those Marines did in February 1945 on Iwo Jima, but I have noticed that the ability to look beyond self to the needs of others is the common factor that produces great deeds in other theatres too.

 

It was not what she expected when she started her day. As she sat in the patient’s room, her job was to assure his safety. He slept most of the time, but in his confused state, he could not be trusted to be alone. Her job as a sitter was to keep an eye on him and to call for assistance if needed.

 

The man in the other bed was slowly winding down. Weary from her vigil, his family member had left in the early hours of the morning to get some rest. Now his body was losing its fight with disease and had reached the tipping point between life and death. His breathing had become erratic and shallow. And he was alone.

 

The sitter slid her chair to the side of his bed and clasped his hand in hers. “I couldn’t stand the thought of him dying alone,” she said. She admitted that it “freaked her out” a little, but she held on to his hand as his breathing stopped and his heart ceased beating. It was not in her job description and certainly not in her comfort zone, but because her compassionate heart demanded it, she made certain he knew he was not alone in his final minutes.

 

How did she do it? How did she overcome her fear and being “freaked out a little?” She chose to focus on him instead of herself. Other-centeredness. That is how heroes are born.

 

Blessings to you all,

 

Jerald

 

The thoughts and opinions here are solely my own and do not necessarily represent those of Parrish Medical Center.