I was going to write about facing something so tremendous, something that scares the crud out of me. I’m talking about doing my roof.
Then I thought about my social experiment, paying the boys $25 each to work on the roof with me. Honestly, it’s not what the job is worth. It’s one of the worst jobs ever. Fringe benefits include lots of dirt, aching muscles, blisters, frightening moments where you shift your weight on the roof and it appears, for a brief second, you’re headed over the edge.
I could have paid them more, but chose not to. It’s work that is expected of because we’re family and everybody takes part. Still, I thought it might be an adequate motivational ploy.
Boy, was I wrong. Spencer couldn’t help because he had to keep an eye on the television. Riley worked ever so slowly for about two hours before informing me he needed a break. Toward the evening, I was back on the roof by myself. I didn’t even want to try anymore.
Before I knew it, boys returned to the roof as the sun started to set. You know the funny thing. They both started working along side me. All three of us were using shovels to scrape tiles off the roof.
“You know what this means, boys,” I told them. “We can do movie lines up here and the girls can’t stop us at all.”
It was a great moment and maybe locking up all the TV cords and remotes had something to do with it.
Still seems like there could be a better topic. It’s late evening now, and mom has several years of memories spread all over the floor. It’s not long before everybody’s interested in ancient photos, clippings, wedding announcements.
I tell Lacey to play a couple of cassette tapes in the stereo. The first is a very warbled copy of a tape I made during my time as a missionary. I sound like a dork, so Lacey gratefully puts in the second tape, which turns out to be a collection of children songs. We all start singing along.
While I’m working, Spencer asks me, “Dad, did Led Zeppelin sing ‘Highway to Hell?’”
“No, he actually sang, ‘Stairway to Heaven.’”
I pause for a moment. “Well I suppose it’s close enough.”
That’s it. There’s my blog post.
3 comments
brettnordquist says:
Jul 13, 2010
Your post brought back good memories I have of helping my father put on a new roof. But I was too young to help do anything on the roof. My job was to pickup shingle scraps and nails off the carport. Finally, after days of begging, my father allowed me up on the roof and I hammered in a few shingles. Isn't it interesting how your boys show up on their own time. Maybe it's a little late, but it sounds like you made it worth their while.
KimN says:
Jul 13, 2010
I helped my parents re-roof their house when I was a teenager and we all had so much fun. I was glad that they let me help, despite being thirteen and a girl. I still can't hear Loyd Cole music without picturing myself up on the hot roof with my brothers, brother-in-law, dad, and uncles.
Good post. Working together is such a good bonding experience.
One question. What is a cassette tape?
LaurieBee says:
Jul 13, 2010
My daughter helped Dad put on a new roof when she was a teenager. She talks often about how glad she was for that experience went she served a mission and someone needed a new roof. She was able to say, "I'll help. I've done it before."