Sunday, September 9, 2012

Assembly Required


Shortly after I married I found myself standing in my new living room with a hammer in hand about to bellow for my husband to come help me hang a picture. Then I thought: Just because you now have a ring on your finger does not make you incapable of pounding a nail into the wall. So I hung the picture myself.

It's easy to fall into traditional roles and to make a habit of being helpless. As a disabled stroke survivor, I have to remind myself to try  before I call for help; sometimes I surprise myself with what I can do.

Last week I assembled a new nightstand for our guest room. The last two steps were hard. I thought of asking my husband for help, but I wanted to be able to blog that I had done it ALL BY MYSELF.


To attach the wooden knob, I worked with the screwdriver in my good right hand while holding the knob steady in my affected left. I had to take breaks after every few turns of the screw because my left hand would slip and grow tired. But that knob is on tight now; I dare it to come off!

Hammering in the 12 little nails to attach the nightstand’s back required some creativity. I could not hold those tiny nails in my left hand. I tried holding them with my right and hammering with my left, but my left hand had neither the required aim nor power to wield a hammer. Finally I used one of my wax earplugs to hold the nail steady. Once the nail was started, the wax peeled away without a trace, and I pounded those puppies home.

That’s right, people, I  built it!

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations Marcelle, Since I am now living alone my attempts have to succeed. I spent 2 hours assembling a bed and was drenched in sweat by the time I was done. But at least now I can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, before it was a thick air mattress and getting up from that was always a matter of swaying in the right direction. Dean

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  2. Isn't it amazing how creative you can get when you have to get something done and there's no one around to help? I've lived totally on my own for the last 7 of the 13 since my stroke, and most of my one-handed "workarounds" are automatic now...after a lot of repetition and some frustration from time to time!

    Congratulations!

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  3. How wonderful! You will always look at the nightstand with pride. The wax earplugs was a brilliant solution.
    I am so glad that "you did it yourself!"

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  4. You are awesome! I am going to get some wax for the next time I inadvertantly pull out the nail holding up a picture.

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  5. Congratulations!! I love your determination and ingenuity!!

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  6. Yay! That's fantastic! I'm proud of you for persevering and your ingenuity.

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  7. You did an excellent job and it looks great. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. I love your admonition to try before calling for help. I have been learning this once again in my new job this year, and, like you am often surprised on how I get the solution needed. There is a fine balance, I find, between solving something myself and when a little help is needed to get it done. But it seems things work out best when I first try myself. I am so impressed with what you are doing - you are an inspiration!

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  9. An amazing combination of ingenuity, resolve and determination. Looking at all the number of pieces and parts reminded me of my own resolve to put together a 'store counter and cash register' for my son many years ago. I was fortunate to have the full use of both hands but I still recall how difficult it was; at one point in my obvious frustration, Jason said: "Mother has a problem?" Congratulations on Your success! I can just see your face breaking into a big smile every time you look at that night stand.

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