It never fails. Every November since we moved into this house seventeen and a half years ago, something major breaks down or someone in the family goes through a medical crisis. I finally admitted last year that November was not a good month for the Turner Family. Three weeks into this month nothing broke down and no one went into the hospital, so I thought maybe we could make it through this month with no catastrophes. I was wrong.
As I sit here typing, with the aroma of the roasting turkey filling the air, we have no use of the plumbing in our house. My husband got home yesterday and both bathrooms backed up, toilets, sink and bathtub. The plumber came out and my husband helped him so we wouldn't have to pay as much. We thought the problem was solved. After my son took his shower, the tub wouldn't drain. Then the toilets started to back up again. So we're waiting for the plumber to arrive this Thanksgiving day to find out what the additional problem is. Hopefully that problem won't be any longer than 75 feet into the main pipe, because that is all the warranty covers from the plumbers visit from yesterday.
There is something different this November with our current crisis. I am not pissed. In fact I feel fairly serene. When these things use to happen I would get highly annoyed. I don't know if this has to do with maturity or being where I am at spiritually, but today I realize this house is old and things tend to break down. We have the original plumbing from 1949. It is time to replace it soon. It's just a matter of being able to afford to replace the plumbing. I am perplexed why our appliances break down in November.
Perhaps this is a good thing and we'll be forced to replace the plumbing, thus maybe remodeling the bathroom that is so long overdue also. Currently our bathroom is not a place for relaxing in the bathtub with candles lit. The drain doesn't work properly, we're in a never ending fight with mold and I think one day our whole entire bathroom will disappear into the abyss due to dry rot in the floor boards. During the summer I am not as bugged by our inadequate bathroom, but now that there is more darkness, I'd love to have a proper tub that works and actually take a bath with candle light.
I need to put things into perspective. This Thanksgiving I rather deal with plumbing problems than have one of my family members in the hospital. There is an oven that works, so we can still eat the traditional turkey with all the trimmings. And I have four days off to relax and work a bit on my home creating more sacred spaces. Last week I finally found a St. Francis statue in Portland. I put the statue out in my front yard next to the bird bath and bird feeder. There is even a little basket that St. Francis is holding so I can put bird see in it. It is the little things like this that I realize that I am very blessed.
On this Thanksgiving day in the United States I wish that all have peace, serenity and joy, and that no one else is dealing with plumbing problems.
In Serenity and Joy
Andrea
