Friday, February 25, 2011

And Then The Glass Shattered . . .


My day began innocently enough. In fact, I thought things were going well. My new ballet flats had finally stopped pinching at the heel, there was one last spray of my favorite perfume left in an otherwise empty bottle, and all the children were healthy and at school.

I didn't suspect anything ominous when the Milgard techs knocked on my door. We had waited 3 weeks for two new windows, and I was happily surprised to see the men in red. They were young, clean-cut and friendly. I talked with them for a few moments, put our dog Matilda in a bedroom, and went back to my office. I was Googling Amazon, seeking out books so obscure they can be purchased for mere cents. All was good, and then the glass shattered.

Amazed, I covered my mouth with my hand as nervous laughter bubbled in my throat. I remember thinking, "You have got to be kidding me. My window just broke."

I stepped into the living room, and the techs were frozen in place with a cockeyed vinyl window frame still in their hands. "Are you alright?" I asked. They nodded in the affirmative. One of them was doing some deep breathing exercises and the other was murmuring "Let it go. Just let it go." I'm guessing the first guy was trying really hard to be calm. I have to give credit to these men. Very professional behavior. No cursing at all. Had I been in their place, the air would still be a soft shade of blue.

I felt really bad for the techs. One of their enormous glass suction cups lost its grip, causing the 8 foot by 5 foot picture window to fall and once the corner of the glass hit the tile, the whole thing exploded. Exploding glass can't be a good way to start your work day. The three of us vacuumed and swept for an hour at least to pick up the worst of the mess. We were comrades in an epic battle against hidden sharpness.

Being part raccoon, I enjoy sparkly things, and there was sparkle in the extreme that day. I had cleaning ADHD! The glass fragments reflected the sunlight coming through the open window, showering my ceiling with fiery brilliance. I kept looking up and trying to sweep at the same time. My floor was one big prism! I felt like I was in the movie Pollyanna when she brings crystals to cheer up the mean old lady. It was awesome! Awesome! A mid-winter Fourth of July!

I would have sat there all day entranced by my ceiling only there was no place to sit. Glass fragments covered my entire main floor: from the mudroom to the front door and everywhere in between. Eventually, the techs left for another job, and there began a five hour cleaning spree, with me, my bucket of water and a cloth in the thick of the action. Word to the wise . . . do not brush glass dust with your finger. Ouchie!!!

Never fear, all is well at our home now, but for one afternoon, I had the shiniest floor in town.

Isn't this just like life? You think you know what to expect and then--wham!-- something happens to mess up your plans. Oh, well, planning is sometimes overrated, and the unexpected often leaves you with a good tale to tell.

Everyone out there okay? Is your stress level low, medium, or high?

Happy, catastrophe-free, weekend!!

22 comments:

  1. Sounds stressful but thankfully it was them and not you that broke the glass. Have a restful weekend. :O)

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  2. ugh, that stinks. We just got a new bay window and i was so worried the glass would get broken. It didn't, though, so i guess we were lucky

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  3. Oh man, that's too bad. I admire you for taking your half positive view of things. I'd have been cursing the men, cursing the company, cursing the window, and cursing the world for ruining my day. I hate cleaning up broken glass.

    Jai

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  4. Wow, talk about taking things in stride. And lucky there was no blood. You're a better (wo)man than I, Gunga Din.

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  5. Oh, NOOOO! I must say, you seem remarkably calm. EEP! Well, your weekend can only get better from here.

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  6. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Not sure who said "If life hands you lemons, make lemonade." You made some very sparkly lemonade! Congrats on handling an unexpected and startling life event so well!

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  7. Glad you find the good in it! That's inspiring.

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  8. I'd be in tears wailing like a lost banshee!!! You are so super calm!! Wow!!!

    I hope you didn't hurt yourself clearing the glass bits and pieces btw!!!!

    Here's looking forward to a very calm and peaceful weekend!!!! No more breaking glass!!! Take care
    x

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  9. I think I was a little hysterical that day. I kept shaking my head in disbelief, a goofy smile on my face.The Milgard techs are coming back to replace the two 8X5 windows sometime soon. If they drop anything else on my floor, I promise you, I will sit down and weep.

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  10. A sense of humor goes a long way, doesn't it?

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  11. What a story! I hope the rest of your weekend will be much better:)

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  12. My stress level is pretty low right now.

    I hope your weekend turns around!

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  13. Now, that is a catastrophe! So glad no one got hurt, but what a mess indeed. Glad you could calmly see some beauty in it all....

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  14. Hmm... I spilled coffee on my work macbook this week and now I'm waiting to see if it will still work. I had to do the walk of shame to tell both my tech guy and my principal. Dun dun dun....

    Glad no one was hurt when the window broke, and I'm SURE the window guys truly appreciated your attitude and cleanup help!

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  15. At least no one got hurt. BUT, they should give you some serious discountage for all the hours you spent cleaning.

    I love the way you looked at the bright side. :) That's one way to get a clean floor. ;)

    Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, love. *hugs*

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  16. That would have been a tough day. Yikes. They are lucky you jumped In to help them.

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  17. Oh. Someone else who likes shiny sparklies. Although I tell people I was a racoon in a former life. (Of course, I ignore that crows have the same fixation coz racoons are cuter.)

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  18. Part raccoon? Now that's the funniest thing I've heard today. I am entertained by this story every time I hear it. I love that the guy had to deep breathe. I can totally picture him. I love that you found a story in it. I love all over again how you can see the bright side (he he) of everything. I mean, who gets as much joy over a broken window as you? Nobody. Nobody else would see anything remotely entertaining in that. I love your comment on flexibility, too. I need some of that. I have to learn to trust that there is a story and meaning behind every unexpected event. You inspire me!

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  19. 8 x 5? That is a lot of glass. Poor guys. Obviously it was an accident, bless your heart for realizing it. I hate to think of the 'splainin' they had to do once they returned to the office.

    Love that you could see the sparkly beauty in a day shattered. :)

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  20. Wow! Great details. Oh, the poor guys. They must have felt horrible. And, I can picture you going, "ooo, shiney glass."

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