The Second Summer
As soon as the weather allowed, everyone was anxious to get started again. We didn't want to spend another winter in the basement.
But now I was working too, and not able to do the running so that supplies would be there ready and waiting when the men got there. My Mother-In-Law, R.P. stepped into that job and was usually there when I got home with J.T. None of the Mother-In-Law jokes could ever be applied to this lady. She was a very big reason I was married to her son.
When I'd returned from Germany with G, the only friends I'd made had been at his families Church. Otherwise, I was stuck at the apartment with the baby and we hadn't stayed together all that long. W's Mother had been very good to me and we had become friends. Now I was back in their county and starting over. I was making friends at work, but all of my time was spent on the new house and there wasn't time to meet others. With the weekends being the only time to really build a house, I hadn't even started going back to Church yet. I didn't really want to return to G's Church and W's family didn't seem to belong any Church. So, finding someplace for J.T. and I to attend would have to wait a few more months.
I've wandered from what I wanted to say. I'm going to use my Mother-In-Laws first name. She was that important to me and it's the only way I can honor her now. Everything changed when she died. Her name was Ruth, which was also my own Mothers first name. She was as close to another Mother as anyone could be. We worked side by side. We took turns getting meals once I had my basement kitchen. Before that, the first summer, she brought all our meals out to us. Then stayed and worked with us.
Ruth worked just as hard on the house as her husband and son did. And, she helped me keep an eye on J.T. and his dog, so that I was able to do more. The men laid down sheets of plywood and tacked the corners. Ruth and I nailed them down. It was the same with shingles and drywall, and everything else.
I especially remember putting the shingles on. It was so hot that day, the black shingles melted the soles of my rubber sneakers. The others were wearing leather shoes, and I mentioned once that my feet were hot. They teased me, so I didn't say anything else. My husband was carrying the bundles to the roof. My Father-In-Law tacked them in place and Ruth and I finished nailing them down. We all worked well together and finished the whole roof in one day. Just the four of us. But, I had blisters on the bottom of my feet and the soles were actually melted when I climbed down. Ruth was angry with me for not saying anything sooner.
W had picked up one of those little habits that can be amusing at first, but eventually start to annoy. When he needed something he wanted me to get for him, he would whistle and point. Without a word, he's just expect me to get it for him. At first I thought it was funny. He might be on a ladder, or in some position that would make it awkward for him to get his own whatever. But, I'd also be working on something and gradually I became annoyed that I'd have to stop what I was doing to answer a whistle and point. I started telling him that I wasn't a dog and he could at least ask. But, it had become a habit with him and he just kept whistling and pointing. We were all working in the same room one day. Ruth and F were putting drywall on one wall and W was working on the ceiling. I was handing sheets up to W who was on a step ladder. He had a sheet held up and dropped his hammer. I was already reaching for it when he did it to me again. It was too much for me and I reacted without really thinking. I gave the bottom of the ladder a good hard kick and yelled at him, "Talk to me, I'm not a dog." W was knocked of the ladder and hit the floor hard. He was so surprised, he didn't even react. He just sat on the floor with the sheet of drywall still held over is head with both arms. His parents both laughed and Ruth told him not to say a word. He'd had it coming. After that he asked me when he wanted anything. No more whistle and point. I hadn't meant for him to fall and felt bad, but I sure didn't say so. Not after I'd gotten Ruth's support.
But now I was working too, and not able to do the running so that supplies would be there ready and waiting when the men got there. My Mother-In-Law, R.P. stepped into that job and was usually there when I got home with J.T. None of the Mother-In-Law jokes could ever be applied to this lady. She was a very big reason I was married to her son.
When I'd returned from Germany with G, the only friends I'd made had been at his families Church. Otherwise, I was stuck at the apartment with the baby and we hadn't stayed together all that long. W's Mother had been very good to me and we had become friends. Now I was back in their county and starting over. I was making friends at work, but all of my time was spent on the new house and there wasn't time to meet others. With the weekends being the only time to really build a house, I hadn't even started going back to Church yet. I didn't really want to return to G's Church and W's family didn't seem to belong any Church. So, finding someplace for J.T. and I to attend would have to wait a few more months.
I've wandered from what I wanted to say. I'm going to use my Mother-In-Laws first name. She was that important to me and it's the only way I can honor her now. Everything changed when she died. Her name was Ruth, which was also my own Mothers first name. She was as close to another Mother as anyone could be. We worked side by side. We took turns getting meals once I had my basement kitchen. Before that, the first summer, she brought all our meals out to us. Then stayed and worked with us.
Ruth worked just as hard on the house as her husband and son did. And, she helped me keep an eye on J.T. and his dog, so that I was able to do more. The men laid down sheets of plywood and tacked the corners. Ruth and I nailed them down. It was the same with shingles and drywall, and everything else.
I especially remember putting the shingles on. It was so hot that day, the black shingles melted the soles of my rubber sneakers. The others were wearing leather shoes, and I mentioned once that my feet were hot. They teased me, so I didn't say anything else. My husband was carrying the bundles to the roof. My Father-In-Law tacked them in place and Ruth and I finished nailing them down. We all worked well together and finished the whole roof in one day. Just the four of us. But, I had blisters on the bottom of my feet and the soles were actually melted when I climbed down. Ruth was angry with me for not saying anything sooner.
W had picked up one of those little habits that can be amusing at first, but eventually start to annoy. When he needed something he wanted me to get for him, he would whistle and point. Without a word, he's just expect me to get it for him. At first I thought it was funny. He might be on a ladder, or in some position that would make it awkward for him to get his own whatever. But, I'd also be working on something and gradually I became annoyed that I'd have to stop what I was doing to answer a whistle and point. I started telling him that I wasn't a dog and he could at least ask. But, it had become a habit with him and he just kept whistling and pointing. We were all working in the same room one day. Ruth and F were putting drywall on one wall and W was working on the ceiling. I was handing sheets up to W who was on a step ladder. He had a sheet held up and dropped his hammer. I was already reaching for it when he did it to me again. It was too much for me and I reacted without really thinking. I gave the bottom of the ladder a good hard kick and yelled at him, "Talk to me, I'm not a dog." W was knocked of the ladder and hit the floor hard. He was so surprised, he didn't even react. He just sat on the floor with the sheet of drywall still held over is head with both arms. His parents both laughed and Ruth told him not to say a word. He'd had it coming. After that he asked me when he wanted anything. No more whistle and point. I hadn't meant for him to fall and felt bad, but I sure didn't say so. Not after I'd gotten Ruth's support.
posted by LeeAnn | 5:48 PM
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