Today was
spent off our bikes, as we worked with a Fuller Center Covenant Partner here in Tupelo, MS. For my fellow riders, they might remember the dust or the paint or the drywall, but for me I will remember my sticky fingers (among other things). We arrived this morning at the home of a woman named Ladeen; our mission was to replace her kitchen floor and some drywall in her bedroom.
I helped a little here and a little there taking advantage of talking with Ladeen and her family when I could.
The real work began when we got to measuring the linoleum for the kitchen. I assisted another rider, Jesse Adler, while he cut everything to dimension.
Because math is not my strong suit, I supervised this portion of the process. Then, with the help of Ladeen’s daughter Mary, Jesse and I adjusted the piece of flooring until it fit just right. And that was the last time my hands were adhesive free. In fact, I hope that none of the still sticky spots catch these computer keys just right or this post might nnnnever end!
I helped another rider, Jonas Winn, apply the floor glue. His exact words were, “Don’t ever get this on you.” That was over the second I reached in the bucket with my trowel. While most of the glue made it to the floor, successfully sealing it down, some remained on my hands. Thankfully that first batch was graciously removed with some weed-whacker gasoline provided to me by Willy, Mary’s husband.
A police escort offered us a grand entrance to the city from the information center just outside of town.
we set out in the rain. We began telling stories to pass the time and the miles began to slide by.
tarted, somebody came up with the idea of putting our hands on the hood of the van to warm them up, which is a nice benefit of having the support van. 