Ordinary Things
Did more fence work yesterday on the big fence around the back lots. For some reason, I decided when I built it to make it eight feet tall. Lots of privacy, but an eight foot tall fence catches lots of wind. That wind works on the lumber and wants it to come apart, especially when it is put together with nails. Thus, some of the 2X6 rails that hold the slats are coming off the poles, especially at the top. So, yesterday I reattached them, with 3.5 inch screws.
The other issue I have is warping. The eight foot slats like to curl up in the sun. A drying, curling board will yank nails out of rails with amazing ease. So, I’m replacing nails with screws where the warping is starting to get out of hand. If I was really ambitious, I’d do the entire fence, but my ambition has limits. Although, as I think about it, I think why not. After all, I have the time. I simply need the will. And it would make the fence last a lot longer. And I can already see where this is going. Me and my drill and a big, big box of screws. Yikes.
The weird thing about all this work is that no one will notice because it’s just maintenance. All they’ll see is a fence that’s been there for nine years. The new screws and newly tightened rails will be invisible. But that’s how maintenance works. I think it’s called keeping up appearances. People only notice when you don’t do it. Which is why we wash our cars, mow our lawns, wear clean clothes, and take showers. Too bad we don’t celebrate that ordinary sort of stuff. Maybe we should. Afterall, it takes effort and think how good it would make someone feel just to hear, “You look nice, today.”
John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver's Tale