SpeechRighter
My husband and I are trying to prop up some shelves we built in the basement over 35 years ago. The base of one of the supports has failed, making the whole set of shelves sag.
My first idea was to move some of the heavier stuff off the shelves while we work on them, but my husband nixed that idea. Now we have a pry bar, a length of 2×4 and some stuff to use as a fulcrum. The idea (I THINK) is to pry the set of shelves up high enough to put the 2×4 in place and then let them down again.
Again, my first reaction is to think of all the things that could go wrong in this endeavor, teeing off my husband. I DID convince him to sit, rest, and have a cup of coffee before we tackle the project again. I pointed out that the heat and air man is coming to check our system tomorrow and that he could help us, but that wounded my husband’s pride. He says, “We can do it.”
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About half an hour has passed since I wrote the above. The project is finished. We managed to use the pry bar and a big pipe to work as the fulcrum, prying up the middle of the shelves high enough, in three moves, for me to move the 2×4 in place to shoulder the load of the shelves. Things are sturdy now and we are both still alive and each in one piece.
I think I’ve told you that my husband and I are basically together 24/7 these days. The fact that he was working quietly, trying to do all this by himself, shows you why I try to watch him quietly, jumping up when I see something that bothers me. I asked him what he was doing earlier. “Measuring wood” was his answer. That alerted me. Happily enough, we got the shelves supported with nothing falling on us. He is resting in his chair now, breathing heavily. I got him a cold drink and encouraged him to rest at least until lunch….
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