Getting Better
Things are steadily improving around here.
The toilet nightmare which began on the 23rd seems to have ended. Early that Tuesday morning I awoke to an overflowing commode. Tuesday is my long day; my first class begins at 8:3o AM, and my last class ends at 7:00PM. But I went to Lowe’s that morning at seven o’clock in the morning, stopped at Walgreen’s to get some medicine for the ailing Mrs. Hill, and did my best to repair the toilet before school. But I ran out of time before I needed to leave. I took a brutal midterm in the afternoon, and was preparing to head to my evening class when Miriam told me they were sending her to the hospital because her symptoms suggested possible appendicitis. It wasn’t, thank goodness, and my professor was understanding when I wrote to him later. But the toilet defeated me that night. And when I reached the point of maximum frustration–when I stood in the doorway of my bathroom, staring at that filthy sewer hole in the floor with the roaches crawling out–I was on the verge of tears.
It was emasculating to have to call a plumber, and I worked all day Wednesday, so it was Thursday afternoon before anyone could come out.
Meanwhile, we spent Wednesday night at Sweetwater Branch Inn, in the charming 1895 McKenzie House. The Giovanna Room was delightful, and Cornelia, who makes the breakfast the bed comes with, was very sweet. In spite of the horrible circumstances, I still had a nice time, and would like to go back some day.
Sara was nice enough to offer to wait for the plumber for me, and he was a nice guy, too. I was going to have him repair the rusted out cast iron flange the toilet gets bolted to, but he told me I could do it myself and save hundreds. He told me what I needed to buy, I went to Home Depot, bought it, and had the toilet together by the time Miriam got home from work. All was well. Until this past Thursday night.
Thursday night, following a brutal midterm in my Early U.S. Novels course, I took a long shower, and was just beginning to mentally transition into spring break. After I got out of the shower I flushed the toilet, and it happened again. The plumber came back out on Friday afternoon, but I missed a chance to go to the beach with Sara. I’ve talked to both my neighbors, and they, too, have experienced the same problem. I am going to call GRU on Monday and have them install a clean out by the street, so if I have another blockage I might be able to clear it myself with a rented auger. I put the toilet in place, caulked it really well, and, as of Saturday night it is doing its job.
And Miriam’s all better.
Leave a Reply