|  Day
Three– Wednesday, June 7, 2006
At 6 a.m. we arrive
at the site and learn that last night’s
thunderstorms created big problems. Excessive
moisture and a misplaced fan resulted in
lengthy delays taping drywall. Drywall workers
were unsuccessfully trying to finish the
job, scheduled to be done at 12 a.m., until
nearly 4 a.m.! The KING, Schedule, was dethroned.
A scramble of activity ensues to correct
the problem. Additional fans and heaters
are secured and the large industrial fan
mistakenly misplaced is relocated. The crew
hustles to clean and remove debris left
behind from the daunted efforts hours earlier
- our first significant setback. Fortunately,
the fans, heaters and God-sent cool dry
breeze seem to be doing the trick. Don Soderburg
Painting and Wall Covering were to prime
and spray surfaces at 10 a.m. Good guys
they are; they willingly delay. Other builders,
learning of our demise, appear offering
assistance. We are moved by their good will.
Fortunately, our drywall dilemma is under
control; looks like we’ll be back
on schedule by mid-afternoon. Whew!
About the 10th call
I receive from the work site, is a request
for ice and a cooler. Since the Habitat
staff and homeowners are keeping us stocked
with water and Gatorade, coolers were returned
to the shed the night before. A delivery
of warm soda indicates we could still use
them. Not wanting to drive 20 miles out
of the way, I opt for picking up a Styrofoam
cooler and ice at Walgreens. That’ll
work.
I am greeted by the
friendly faces of MBA and Habitat volunteers
I have come to know over the course of the
last 10 months. Many of them inquire, concerned,
about our drywall difficulties. I reassure
and thank them. Shenita and Tamanga, well
aware of the crisis, tell me they enjoyed
being asked to help sweep and remove debris.
Like me, they would love to do more.
Radios blare on all
sides of the house; tuned to different stations.
Joe Martin, our project manager, lets his
buddy Mariah, a gentle, small, black lab,
enjoy laying in the shade; leashed. Volunteers,
making the rounds, shower her with attention.
Great progress has
been made since the early morning hours
and apprehension dissipates. The KING is
enthroned again. We are back on schedule.
Siding is nearly finished, gutters and downspouts
are installed, the beautiful porch is painted
and drywall work is just about done. We
are all confident interiors will be painted
by sundown. Doors, temporarily removed,
lean against the side of the house looking
a little like sentinel guards. For sure,
Someone was watching over us!
Ice and cooler
delivered, sodas chilled and photos taken
I head back to the office. I have a “carpe
diem” moment. I am grateful for good
people and so glad to be a part of this!
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