We asked our son Chris for help. It's not lost on us that he and
Tash may not be as available soon, once Joey arrives, and so we reached out
with our request. We were picking up a new fridge for the basement which
was too heavy for us and we had chosen a new mirror for the living room which
needed to be hung. Chris and Tash were quick to respond with their
willingness to come by and assist. We are so grateful for the generosity.
After a quick "pee break" for Mommy Tash at our place, we met
them at Urban Barn where Chris was able to haul the mirror out for us with no
assistance. Tash waited in the truck to protect our purchase, and Chris
joined us in Home Depot. While Ky tried to locate a cart, Chris and I
searched the isles for "EZ anchors" which he said we needed to hang
the heavy mirror. He also assisted with finding butane for our mini blow
torch (we've having dinner guests and I had made Crème Brulee which needed
finishing). Once Ky arrived with the cart he hauled the mini (but large)
fridge off the floor onto the cart and we cautiously made our way to the check
out.
The Dodge Ram easily accommodated our purchases and once again Chris
hauled everything himself into the truck box and positioned the containers for
the short trip to our place. Once in our driveway, he reversed the order;
unloading everything and hauling inside.
A minor hiccup when the mirror was pulled from the packaging.
There was a small crack. We took a short break to engage with Ky on
the topic of inconsistent of packaging. "Why," she bemoaned,
"when shipping kids plastic toys from China do then strap them down, pack
them in cardboard, stuff them with packing popcorn and seal them up ~ and yet
with a F'ing breakable mirror - they use a skinny, shitty piece of Styrofoam and
a thin cardboard box!?!?!"
A call back to the store gained assurance that they would re-order the
mirror and exchange the new one with the cracked one once it arrives.
That elicited an additional commentary from Ky and storage of the F'ing
mirror in the meantime. After encouragement from Chris, Tash and I she
conceded that we could store the mirror on the wall since the crack was so
small, and then, it would be easy to hang the new one exactly where Chris had
anchored and measured already. Although she wasn't happy about it she
gave in.
I'm sure you can't even find the crack!!
Hanging art, or large mirrors requires patience, preciseness and
expertise. Chris possesses all of these qualities and more, and I watched
with a full heart from the kitchen as he worked with Ky, guiding the
installation of the mirror. Measuring once, measuring again, holding it
up, taking it down, holding it up again, and all the while responding patiently
to Ky's angst about the F'ing crack; LOL.
Lunch was next - as per the request, we'd laid out a buffet of cheeses,
veggies, dips, pate, mango salad and assorted crackers. We chatted over
lunch, hearing stories from Chris and Tash about what's gone on since we last
saw them. We marvel always witnessing our kids share their experience of
pregnancy and their thoughts about becoming parents. We could not be any
more proud of Chris and Tash as they engage in parenthood with the same
thoughtful, loving approach they have embodied throughout their lives.
Lunch finished, Chris found sliding the fridge downstairs wasn't too
tough and he and Ky positioned it behind the bar. After the old fridge
was packed in his truck along with all the packaging it was time for a game of
poker :)
Waving good bye to our kids (and our 50 bucks ~ yes he beat our ass at
poker), I reflect on this youngest son of ours. Like the mirror he just
hung for us, he's been roughed up just a bit by life, and in spite of that, he
reflects back to the world only beauty and sparkle.
He's complex, unique, and generous ~ our joy.
