Bombs Aweigh!

I love it when a plan comes together.  Our rehab unit needed some tender loving care. For quite some time, we have been transporting 20# propane cylinders in the back of our cargo truck by strapping them together and strapping them to the wall hooks. We rely on the propane to fire portable heater units during those long winter calls, and to heat water for comfort drinks at emergency scenes.  I had an idea for securing them bouncing around in my head for quite some time, but never seemed to find the time to commit to executing the project. 

Then one night last week, I had a dream where the back door of the rehab opened up and the tanks started dropping out the back like a world war two carpet bomber.  And they just kept coming!  They were blowing craters in the highway, taking out bridges, causing multi-car pile-ups.  The truck was like Stephen King’s Christine, it had a mind of its own, and it was indestructible. Then the dream got really weird, but I keep the rest of the details to myself so the morality police stay off my back. 

I sketched out my idea and scratched down some rough measurements and headed to the local Lowe’s.  This may seem like a logical idea, but you need to understand what home improvement stores are to me.  Let’s just say, if there is ever a meeting with a twelve-step program to save people like me, I will attend religiously.  I once went to Home Depot for duct tape, and left the store with $275 worth of material to start 4 different home projects, but I digress. 

I was proud that I kept my purchases to about $55 dollars for all the lumber, hasps, brackets and hardware that I would need to materialize my creation. I arrived at the station today and had lunch while I verbalized my plan to finally secure the propane bombs.  Within 30 minutes, we had the apparatus re-arranged, tools in place, and the sawdust was flying.  There was no need to ask, the help just arrived.  Three or four guys pitched in and helped adjust the design, measure, drill, cut, screw, bolt, and troubleshoot.  Soon, the tanks were lined up like soldiers, nestled into the floor board, and secured by the hinged lid and a pair of dynamically elasticized double-hooked security straps (aka Bungee cords). 

Even better than the swift, stress-free execution of the plan was the immediate clean-up effort that had the station back in order, and splinter free.  Big thank you shout out to Troy, Justin, Dave and Jordan for pitching in and helping.  You helped turn what I expected to be an all day project into a fun, efficient 2-hour task.  At a time when I was beginning to lose faith in the concept of teamwork in our house, today refreshed my hope. 

I am looking forward to my dreams tonight.  No more propane potholes to worry about.  Maybe I will dream up a nice quiet getaway, and a secret romantic rendezvous hundreds of miles from home, where I can escape reality for a few days and live in temporary bliss!

Giggity, Giggity!