Two Tale Tuesday

1.) Over a month ago, I saw a Father's Day card at Target while Dad was in the hospital. It was a kiddie card with Optimus Prime from the 2007 movie on the front and when you opened it you heard him say, "Autobots, transform and roll out." Dad wasn't a big Transformers fan, but he knew I liked them and I thought it would be a goofy card to give him as a gag. I walked around with it in hand while I shopped, but when I got to the cashier, I decided to put it back. I think on some level I might have known Dad wouldn't see it. After he passed away, I saw it again and this time I bought it.

This past Sunday, on Father's Day, I wrote in it, thanking him for all he did and how I missed him, and took it with me when we went to the cemetery. I left it by his marker as we stood there in silence. Mom asked if she could take it home with her since they'd likely just throw it out after a while, so I said yes. Now it hangs in his bedroom, still sealed. But, I'd like to think he read it somehow.

2.) Today, I was helping Mom out by cleaning the back gutters of her home. Two years back, my parents had a new roof installed, but apparently they didn't clean up their mess, so there was a lot of old roof crap in the gutter. On one side, as she showed me yesterday, two small trees were growing out of the drain pipe. I pulled them out and tried to dig the stuff out, but it was packed in good. So, I went from one end to the other, shovelling and grabbing the larger pieces then I went back through with the hose and moved the remaining sludge to the other end and down the good drain pipe.

Mom has a "snake" that she used when Dad would clog the toilet so she wouldn't have to pay a plumber $95 for 15 minutes of work. I tried using that on the clogged end to no avail. I felt a sort of whisper in my ear that said to try blasting the crud with the hose. So, I grabbed the nozzle and slowly began to barrel water into the clog. Some stuff seeped up and out, so I scooped it away and continued to shoot water into the drain. Next thing I know, Mom's hollering that water was coming through at the bottom. I kept going and soon the drain pipe was clear. I'd like to think that whisper I heard was Dad lending a helping hand. Thanks, Dad, for continuing to look out for us.