2008 Woodie Awards
PLUMBING: Not as Easy as it Looks
Carolyn Cleveland: Muleskinner
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Features
My brother Matt is probably the nicest guy you could ever meet. He would go to the ends of the earth and back again to help out even the newest of acquaintances. Have a computer problem? That's no problem for Matt. Need help moving? Have no fear, because he will be there.
All of those jobs that average people find excuses to get out of, Matt tackles head-on. What if he doesn't have the skills or knowledge you say? One quick "Google" search and he's on his way.
Consequently, this has landed Matt in some pretty interesting situations. Matt's latest project was to work on a friend's mom's plumbing, hereafter known as Mrs. G, who lives by herself.
When Mrs. G discovered a prior plumber had cut off a pipe and her bathtub was draining into her crawlspace, she called the guy she knew would help her out, even though Matt has never had any experience with plumbing repair.
Collecting the Crew
When Matt got on the phone with our Dad, who is extremely used to Matt's crazy undertakings, he asked Dad what he thought about the situation. While Dad was proud that Matt was kind enough to volunteer, his voice was drenched with doubt and concern for an impending disaster. His parting words to Matt were "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." If only we had listened, we could have at least "Googled" a map.
One of Matt's friends, Aaron, volunteered to help him with the project. Aaron, at least, had some experience with home repairs. Matt had asked me if I would go along and help by handing them tools and making supply runs. With images of the female assistant on "Tool Time," I dressed in my ratty jeans and donned my dirty, brown work boots.
Stranger in Need
Getting into the car, the guys noticed a man from the mechanic shop next door pushing a stalled car into the garage. As they went over to help, my mind couldn't help but to flash back to another one of Matt's insane escapades. A couple of summers ago, Matt's car had stalled in our church parking lot and refused to start. He enlisted my help to push the car to the other end of the lot so it would be out of the way.
All of those jobs that average people find excuses to get out of, Matt tackles head-on. What if he doesn't have the skills or knowledge you say? One quick "Google" search and he's on his way.
Consequently, this has landed Matt in some pretty interesting situations. Matt's latest project was to work on a friend's mom's plumbing, hereafter known as Mrs. G, who lives by herself.
When Mrs. G discovered a prior plumber had cut off a pipe and her bathtub was draining into her crawlspace, she called the guy she knew would help her out, even though Matt has never had any experience with plumbing repair.
Collecting the Crew
When Matt got on the phone with our Dad, who is extremely used to Matt's crazy undertakings, he asked Dad what he thought about the situation. While Dad was proud that Matt was kind enough to volunteer, his voice was drenched with doubt and concern for an impending disaster. His parting words to Matt were "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." If only we had listened, we could have at least "Googled" a map.
One of Matt's friends, Aaron, volunteered to help him with the project. Aaron, at least, had some experience with home repairs. Matt had asked me if I would go along and help by handing them tools and making supply runs. With images of the female assistant on "Tool Time," I dressed in my ratty jeans and donned my dirty, brown work boots.
Stranger in Need
Getting into the car, the guys noticed a man from the mechanic shop next door pushing a stalled car into the garage. As they went over to help, my mind couldn't help but to flash back to another one of Matt's insane escapades. A couple of summers ago, Matt's car had stalled in our church parking lot and refused to start. He enlisted my help to push the car to the other end of the lot so it would be out of the way.
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