TWEAKS+inspiration : Projects Sometimes Need Only Patience
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A very frivolous shaggy dog story. If you're like me, once in a while, a little thing can bug you to the point of distraction. Here's a case in point. Last spring, Jesus and his crew made a fireplace surround for my bedroom. I designed something very simple and affordable, using marble moulding from Floor&Decor.
Here's the original surround and insert I woke up to every morning for 27 years, fantasizing on what could be done on a limited budget. Had P still been here, I'm pretty sure he would have signed off on the new, more energy efficient insert but saw nothing wrong with the surround that must have been built on a Friday with wood scraps. Let's see what happened next.
After completion, I was disappointed that one of the marble pieces (top right) was a darker color. We were stuck because other lighter pieces had broken. I thought I could live with it but it just bothered me.
See what I mean? Jesus said he could replace with a better match but when I checked, all the Bay Area Floor&Decor stores were out of stock.
Periodically, I'd look up each store's inventory with no luck. Then one day in September, five months later, the tile was in stock. I pounced. Jesus (left), the tiler and Oscar came over on a Saturday morning. Everyone agreed it look liked a mistake.
Jesus' crew built a box to protect the room and got to work.
That was that. Easy Peasy. But after 6 weeks, the tile piece was still looking dark. Jesus, ever patient, told me to give it time.
Later in the fall, I was gone for three weeks. During my travels, I didn't give this little tile a single thought. Maybe it didn't bother me that much. But when I came home, it still looked dark. Then, one morning, I woke up and did my morning check which by now was my routine. I did a double take. All of a sudden, it had dried. I texted a photo and "thank you" to Jesus. Then I reminded myself that patience is a virture. I believe Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." A life lesson from such a small thing. Enjoy your Sunday!
