Tuesday, June 2, 2009

TO COMPLICATE MATTERS

The other day, as we were getting prepared for the new trailer to be moved onto our lot, and thinking about the cactus flower blog post, and wondering what to fix for dinner, something happened. We were unlocking the entry door to come into the motor home, when BAM! The door handle popped and refused to work. Couldn’t open the door.

The only other entry is the driver’s door. Which takes a different key. To complicate matters, the first step is two feet off the ground! To complicate matters, I had to use my right foot to get there, the one at the bottom of my right leg, which also includes my right knee which is still recovering from surgery a short while back.

I got the door opened and stepped up with my right foot. To complicate matters, all the shades and curtains in the world are drawn across that doorway to fight the afternoon and evening sun which, in the southeast Arizona desert, blazes away without remorse.

I lifted the three or four layers of curtains and sunscreens. To complicate matters, the driver’s seat was packed with all the new bedding, comforter, pillow shams, mattress pad, mattress cover, and two pillows that we have already purchased for the new trailer. I pushed them out of the way, tossing them helter-skelter. And started to crawl in under the three or four layers of curtains and sunscreens.

To complicate matters, I had to crawl across the driver’s seat (which of course had both arm supports lowered into position) on my right knee, which as you may recall is still recovering from surgery a short while back. I made my way to the front door and opened it from the inside so Suzy could come in. Next, we tested to door latch to see if this was a one-time experience, which it seemed to be, as everything worked smoothly during our test.

Next day, same damn thing, only this time the bedding was out of the driver’s seat and the arm rests had been raised as if in surrender. So I crawled in through the driver’s door …. You get the picture.

We started calling our friend Steve at Kiwi Mobile RV Service. To complicate matters, Steve is out of town until July 4. So we called Roadrunner RV service. He spends his summers in Colorado doing what he does in Arizona during the winter. To complicate matters, our third choice, AARK, is in Oregon for the summer, just like Roadrunner is in Colorado.

To complicate matters, the only RV mobile repair person available comes from Hereford, AZ, which is about 50 miles from Benson. And it’s Saturday night. We left a message.

Sunday morning, the guy from Hereford called. He was in Benson anyway on an emergency call, and could he come out and see what he could do? We said sure, why not. He came, he saw, he conquered. For $87.50, he bent a piece of metal and loosened a set screw, and now our door handle works, better than ever before. What a fine investment of $87.50 to ease … Our Life on Wheels!

8 comments:

  1. Do you notice that most folks with good sense get out of there this time of year? There is a reason for that. :)

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  2. HaHa, I see the humor,,I think??

    Its a complicated life!!

    It gets worse and worse, so the old guys tell me,,,:-)

    Glad you got it!!

    Mike

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  3. Sounds like you had a pretty frustrating time with that door lock. Glad to see you got it fixed o.k. I've used Mobile RV technicians a few times - they sure come in handy when you need them.

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  4. Okay you guys, NOW you're experiences are beginning to sound like mine! ha Glad you got it all worked out!

    Donna Daniel

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  5. "Is it door number 1; door number 2; or - nope - no door number 3. At least you have a driver's side door. We know friends with coaches that do not have a driver's door. I bet a movie clip of you climbing in door number 2 would make it to the final 3 on America's Funniest Home Videos!

    Glad the fix was easy. Now give that right knee some deserved pampering!

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  6. I'm so glad it wasn't a difficult or expensive fix!!! However, doesn't make it any less frustrating!

    Hope everything else is okay!

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  7. I hope you didn't re-injure your knee, Dad. Thank goodness you found some help!

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  8. It's the small things that get you. I'm glad your story had a happy ending.

    We're in Illinois now. I'll blog later.

    Darlene

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