A Saturday Disaster
Panic struck as the transmission filter broke off in my greasy hands leaving a piece behind impossible to retrieve. Now my high hopes of fixing up Dad’s old Oldsmobile lay splattered with the oil on the driveway.
“That does it, I can’t do this anymore!” I conceded.
Once a fair mechanic, my Saturday adventure turned into a total disaster. It began with fighting rusty bolts on shock absorbers that never came off. Next, my new pile of ignition parts were for a Ford and not dad’s Olds. And would you believe, all I could do was stare at worn disc brakes not remembering where to begin.
So, my last hope for success… flush the transmission. How hard can it be? 12 bolts on the lower pan, check for ware, install the new internal filter, then button it up with a new pan gasket. Simple right? Unfortunately, now I couldn’t even drive it to a “good” mechanic.
What changed? What happened to my old skills?
I guess there are many ‘good’ excuses … too old, out of shape, wrong tools, etc. Yet, it really came down to expectations. Ages since holding a wrench, I should have leaned into it rather than jump off the cliff with just a Saturday window.
Down and Out… But Tried Again
The old backyard mechanic in me was crushed. For a while, I let others work on my vehicles, except for a few ‘must saves’ with our Land Rover in Africa. Finally, last year I decide to give it a go again; attempting to install new shocks to stabilize our diesel truck under its’ heavy camper.
Truth is, I let the shocks lie on the work bench for a few days then chickened out calling a mechanic. Fortunately, he wasn’t available until the next week.
I started tentatively, “Well maybe I can get the bolts off.” Ninety minutes later, new shocks were installed properly and glowing proudly. I must admit I stood a bit taller too.
Not that it was easy, mind you. There were definitely a few anxious moments. Yet a little voice in my head kept saying, ‘You can do it Grandpa.’ So, I did!
Then Something Unexpected
This experience sparked an impossible journey of turning a basic empty windowless year old cargo van into our new tiny home on wheels.
With no help from others (thus with our bare hands) she is a beautiful creation if we do say so ourselves. And it’s not just a bed thrown in the back of an insulated paneled bay with a couple of 5-gallon jugs under a tin sink. She is a full-blown mobile tiny house satisfying our dreams and every need.
Now I Know What You’re Thinking.
How did Margrit and I at age 67 go from scared of shock absorbers to building this monster? Well, it was the same consistent thought, ‘You can do it!’
As we look back, there was so much more to this journey than wrenches, electrons, running water, and sawing wood. How about learning 5 trades, being patient with failure, continually moving forward, changing expectations, pushing down pride, and even discovering a few deeper things of life. Most importantly, trusting in an impossible outcome.
So, you know what, ‘You can do it too, whoever you are… whatever you want to attempt!’ We are so much more than we give ourselves credit for. And that’s the pure joy of this journey… We did it and if we can, you can to!
Just grab a bit of courage and desire, then… loosen the bolts.
Enjoy the day and do some good.
Russ Harris loves all things technical and making the world a better place, especially for Margrit.
