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| Keith & Mary |
Cold showers are widely thought to be therapeutic as well as hygenic, and I have been enjoying them since last Wednesday. On Friday I realized the cold shower on Wednesday wasn't a fluke. Given the hot weeks we've been having, it didn't seem like a big deal, but after Friday's VERY cold shower, I mentioned it to Keith. (For newcomers, Keith is the husband of Mary and father of my son-in-law Ben, husband to my daughter Rebekah. Since I started having memory disturbances, Keith and Mary have become my de facto guardians and backup team.)
Anyway, Keith said, "Cold showers constitute an emergency!" and immediately went to Maintenance. They confirmed that the pilot light was out and relit it. They said it would take a while for the water to heat up.
Now it's Monday. Guess what? Right! I didn't take my cold shower today, I just couldn't. I apologize to my dog and anyone else I may have inadvertently smelled upon. I called the Stonebridge office, and they sent the head of Maintenance, Tommy, a soft-spoken, heavily tattooed Hispanic man who was leery of Sadie. Sadie does bark loudly. Tommy has had some unfortunate experiences with "nice" dogs here at Stonebridge. Tommy relit the heater this morning. Noon: still cold. Tommy came back in the afternoon and the flame was out. After repeated bangings and several trips back and forth to his office, Tommy said it needs a new thermocouple, as if I had any clue what that is. The one he has on hand wouldn't fit, it's a custom deal. He promised to come back tomorrow at 8 a.m. and left his tools in my heater closet. He did kindly offer to let me use his shower. (You're dying to know: I gratefully declined.)
Since Mary and I are going shopping tomorrow (for our grandson's birthday), I guess it will be==you guessed!==another cold shower tonight. Gee, I can hardly wait.