Shingles, Paint, and Kindness

“Tricia, have you had a chance to look at the paint and shingle samples?  Have you made any decisions?”

“No, I’m sorry I haven’t.  It’s all just . . . very overwhelming to me.”

Robb would have done all of this.  The research on shingles and paint colors and warranties and HOA regulations and approvals and signatures.  He would have lain it all out before me, insisting on an egalitarian decision, and I would have said, “Hmmm.  I choose blue.”

The hail damage happened weeks and weeks and weeks ago.  Every house in the neighborhood has been repaired, reshingled, repainted.  Not mine.

I continued with the contractor, tears stinging my eyes, as I worked ot keep my voice steady.  “It’s just that I have never done this.  I don’t know how.  I feel like I need to get inside his head to know what to do.”

“Tricia, I can help you.  You don’t need to get inside his head.  I can help you with this.  If my wife needed to make these decisions, she would be lost, too, because I’ve always done it all.  Of course if I needed to take the lead on caring for the children, I would be lost.  ‘Cause that’s what she does.  So let me help you. Let’s talk through this one decision at a time.”

What’s more, he agreed to meet me at the HOA office, to walk me through the process and get all the designated signatures.

“Don’t panic, Tricia.  You can do this.  I’ll meet you at the office in an hour.”

This kindness makes me believe that sparkles of goodness can light up the whole world.