Anywho, it was unseasonably warm 2 nights ago, and Brian decided the gutters could use a pre-winter cleaning. Woof. But I figured this is a husband's job, and hey! What are husbands for? Well cleaning the gutters, to be sure! So he brought out the big extension ladder, climbed up and told me he was going to clean from the roof. WHAAA?
"Yes," my beloved said. "From the roof." Apparently this is how he cleans the gutters at my in-laws' house. I had never heard of this technique before, and since I'm adverse to putting my loved ones in danger IN ANY WAY, PUT THAT SEAT BELT ON RIGHT NOW, I was a bit ... hesitant.
But up he went, as I steadied the ladder with all my might. He started climbing all over the roof, looking for a good (safe) place to start. Panicked, I circled the perimeter of the house, thinking of a contingency plan should his body come hurling to the ground.
I'll keep my phone in my pocket. Yes. Right here.
Then I'll call 911, obviously.
Then I'll try and remain calm and I won't move him because there could be a spinal injury.
And then I'll say 10 Hail Marys.
And then I'll stay very calm until the paramedics come.
Maybe I'll have to perform some sort of CPR. That's okay. I was a certified lifeguard. I got this.
Hi Sweetheart. Be safe. Can I throw you a helmet? Or elbow pads? Or rock climbing gear?
Then he peers over the side of the house, and tells me that the roof is too steep and he can't reach the gutters without toppling over. You know what I did?
Guess what I did?
I happen to love heights. It's true. A month before our wedding, I cleaned out my parents' gutters (with the help of Special K) like a CHAMP. So I suggested I climb up, clean as far as my arms and hands can reach while remaining on the ladder, climb down, scoot the ladder over a few feet, then repeat the process. Brilliant.
So I did it. And Brian steadied the ladder, and I scrambled up the ladder, mucked out the gutters and scrambled back down again until it was finished. It was actually a beautiful evening and a nice way to bond. Is this considered marital bonding? I think it should be.
So it was a nice team effort and I was proud of my domesticated, brave self. Except that climbing up and down a ladder at a steep incline, over and over when you are severely out of shape can only result in one thing.
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Thanks for the reminder of having a contingency plan. :) You see, we are planning to clean our gutters this weekend as our system seemed to be a little faulty during the last rain. So, I was looking for some tips and I stumbled upon this. I almost missed that part of the preparation. Thanks! -->Lenore
ReplyDeleteGrime and gutter dredge aside, that was such a cute bonding moment for the two of you! And what a handy-woman you turned out to be! Ideally, it would be good to start cleaning from the roof down, but in this instance, he could've been put in a lot of danger. Since you've got great teamwork going, I suggest you make your gutter-cleaning a regular thing. The cleaner your gutter is, the less chances of it clogging and causing water to seep into your home and cause damage.
ReplyDelete-- Kylee Groves --
Haha! The thoughts you had are hilarious! But hey, nobody can blame you for worrying too much about your husband's safety. By the way, it's cool that you had some marital bonding while cleaning your gutters. You accomplished something that must be done while having a good time. That's really nice! Ashlee Starns
ReplyDeletegood.roofers say you can clean your gutters with a leaf blower
ReplyDelete