Friday's "Thanks-a-gram"

From Lesley Misko     

I don't like being "a damsel in distress," but life circumstances have created challenges I cannot conquer alone.  It isn't easy to ask for help when you have been independent throughout most of your life. 

If I were a young, attractive damsel, it would probably be easier to seek assistance, but being an old lady, the label "damsel" doesn't really apply. I guess I'm more "a dame in distress." Despite that, I have been blessed to get assistance from some people and I cannot thank them enough.     

My first thanks goes to local (semi-retired, I think) building contractor Donnie Heimbach. With a terribly painful back and knees, I am extremely dependent on the handrails I use to get myself up and down my 13 steps. Even with the handrails, it is a challenging experience and I say a prayer each time I undertake the journey. 

One day a bracket holding the railing snapped and the railing became loose. Frightened of falling, I consulted A.D. Moyer for someone who might help; they suggested Donnie.   He came quickly, brought what was needed, assessed the situation, fixed the problem, and didn't charge a fortune. He assured me that the handrails would hold, and his words and skill have given me some confidence and courage each time I must travel the stairs.

Since then he has done some larger projects (replacing a window) and some smaller projects (making some door locks work more efficiently) and I am so grateful to him for not blowing me off. I am so grateful for his skill and his heart of gold.

My next enthusiastic thanks goes to Dennis Weller and his wonderful crew of craftsmen at Ehst Kitchens.  Dealing with Dennis and the guys has always been fun because the end result has always been a wonderful new bathroom or kitchen update. However, more recently, the outcomes have been more essential and practical. 

Just when I realized some bars in the house would enable me to stand and sit more easily, I also realized that I had waited too long to have that realization. I was really struggling, and I didn't know how I would manage without these bars until they could be installed. Dennis had been thoughtful in providing safe aging planning when he updated our shower and kitchen, so I contacted him. Understanding my level of need, despite being very busy with much bigger and more costly projects, Dennis explained what was needed to his guys and I had secure bars within a couple of days. 

In addition to doing good work, Ehst always makes things that look good. My worries about ruining the attractiveness of the house were totally unnecessary; you hardly notice them. When the very deep steps into the garage became an almost insurmountable struggle,  Ehst built a new set of stairs with very shallow steps. Everyone compliments them and I don't have to worry about leaving or entering the house.  Many thanks to Dennis and the Ehst crew for responding to my need for safety. Thank you for caring and being so skilled at what you do.   

Number three in my lineup of wonderful people is local electrician, John Leffel, who rescued several lamps that I love, from having to be thrown away. 

Growing up, my small family had the things we needed -- food, clothing, shelter -- but we did not have lots of extra money to buy things "just for pretty." The economics of life as a teacher were pretty much the same, but as the years went buy, living simply, having two incomes, having a small family, we could sometimes afford to buy something we liked... just because we liked it. That was how we came to own several lamps from the Restoration Outlet store. I love them! You know how sometimes things just feed your soul with their beauty; sometimes you can't even explain why.  

It took some time, but eventually we realized why the lamps were at the outlet store: one by one, the switches broke.  I checked with Denny Electric and a number of the major electricians in the area. They all said the same thing: it was too small a project, two time consuming, and it wasn't worth it. I was extremely saddened to face the prospect of having to throw the lamps away. But then Denny electric suggested John Leffel. Although he was very clearly busy and said it might take some time, he was willing to repair the lamp switches. He did a wonderful job, did not charge a fortune, and I am so grateful to have them back again. Since then, John has helped us with several other things.  

This holiday season, this "dame in distress" is feeling blessed to be able to rely on help from skilled and thoughtful community members with such good hearts. Happy Thanksgiving.

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