The Correct Tool

When I mentioned in a previous blog post that an adjective that could never be used to describe my father was handyman, a good friend told me that her father’s idea of using a tool was picking up the telephone.

Her father, like mine, was a big fan of contracting out household projects.

But sometimes things needed to be fixed that could not be fixed for hire.

Sometimes using tools was necessary.

Ever since I saw someone on HGTV hang small framed mirrors so tightly over a mantle that they gave the illusion of one large architectural mirror, I have been obsessed with the idea.

Completely obsessed.

For months.

The trouble was I was unable to find mirrors just like the ones in the television show—until last week---by accident---in Home Depot. They were the Martha Stewart brand—14x14 three inch champagne metallic framed mirrors.

They were perfect.

Three Home Depots later and I had enough mirrors to complete the project.

And then my husband cringed. He said What do you want to do with all those mirrors? I knew the thought of tacking 8 mirrors perfectly to the wall like building blocks while I watched was cause for an anxiety attack. I saw him mentally using the electronic level and too many measuring devices to complete my plan. I telepathically heard him conclude that my vision was impossible.

But when he asked How do you expect me to get all those mirrors seamlessly placed on the wall?, I had a response ready: Industrial Strength Velcro--- one of my father’s favorite tools.

It worked like a charm.

The mirrors look awesome.

And among my father’s other fixing aides were WD-40, duct tape, super glue, wooden toothpicks (flat and round) and of course matchbooks—to level an uneven table.

Hammers, screw drivers, pliers and wrenches were left to the experts—or my mother.

And if my father watched this little mirror hanging scenario down from heaven he most definitely would have been  proud—not just because I used his beloved Velcro in an ingenious way—but because no one got their hands dirty or made holes in the plaster wall---two other things—besides playing handyman, that he also was not particularly fond of.