My neighbor, Jim, has a small auto repair business that he runs out of his home garage. He is an amazing guy and, it seems, is always around to rescue me when things go wonky.
Just a few examples:
Last fall I dropped a huge window on my hand after the rope sash broke, crushing two fingers. Jim administered ice and Advil and tolerated my blubbering.
He has, perpetually, put air in the car tires this year as they deflate each time the “polar vortex” dips south.
Today, Jim rescued me after I began a do-it-myself replace the kitchen faucet project. The dang thing, corroded, snapped off in my hand, the day-before-yesterday. I was determined to do this one on my own. After buying the replacement faucet and all I needed (or so I thought) I did my level best to remove the old, rusted out parts.
Well, my guardian neighbor may have heard me cursing like a sailor, because he showed up on the scene armed with tools.
We ended up making an event of it. We took a trip to 7 Corners Hardware (a St. Paul institution just sold to a developer- alas) for the things I didn’t know I needed and went out for a sandwich at Acme Deli on St. Clair.
As I write this there is a new faucet; we got lunch, Jim got to sample a few of my peanut butter cookies and I am going to re-frame a poster for him! Bartering and neighboring at its best! (LOVE my neighbor Jim!)
