Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Though her smile is gone forever
And her hand, I cannot touch
I still have so many memories
Of the one I loved so much.
Her memory is now my keepsake
Which with I’ll never part.
God has her in her keeping.
I have her in my heart.
Sadly missed, but never forgotten.
It was amazing to me that my beautiful wife became integral to my family when we got married, after so many years when I was not close to them. My aunts and uncles, all elderly, loved Sue and they were happy to see me happy again after s long period of being absent from their company. Below is Sue with my cousin Kat, who was in her late 80s. Every two weeks, we would take her on an “outing” to the zoo (like the one below), a museum, a new place to dine, or even on cruises through the Panama Canal. Sue and Kat became great friends. They are both gone now, but always remembered.
My Mother loved Sue and became an instant family daughter (Mom did not usually like girls, but Sue was an exception). It was more than just through marriage, they developed a deep appreciation and love for each other. I was so proud to have family visit us, and we celebrated all holidays together as a family. I was so proud to have Sue as my partner.
I tear up, and that is OK, when I see these snapshots of us together with family. The day pictured below was special as Kat got to ride the zoo train and feed the monkeys. She was so excited, and Sue and I just sat and watched, giggling along with her. I love you, Sue, and always will!
Always thinking about others.
The day started relatively early as the electrical contractor began at 8:30 am. Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mam. Wires were flying in every direction. I was going to work around the power being on, but I said I would throw a cord over the fence to Vicky’s and grab what I needed for Bob to work.
The pool was not properly wired, so I decided to get it right, and I ran another 12-gauge wire through about 30 feet of conduit. I apparently ran my hand into the stucco while forcing the snake into the pipe! Ouch!
Fishing wire is not for the faint of heart!
These cables go into the ceiling, and I must figure out where they go in the morning and label them! It has at least six separate circuits!
Tomorrow at 6 am, I am going into the attic and figuring out what these guys are up to!
They had to cut the stucco, install a new box, and enlarge the hole for the new power box. I was impressed with the care they took NOT to get crud into the pool! The crew was polite, neat, and knowledgeable.
First class all the way!
The power saw was cutting stucco wall like there was no tomorrow, but the baggie kept the dust inside and away from the pool!
They were carefully demolishing the wall to keep crud out of the pool!
The guys knew their stuff and were very careful when dealing with electricity. Everything was labeled, so tomorrow will be easier to reconnect the cables.
The work begins!
The new code requires grounding. OMG, there are two rods and they go half-way to China! Eight feet down into the Earth, and also tied to the cold water. The also bonded the cold water to the tankless heater and associated gas line in the garage. I have been grounded, and I am seventy-five years old!
We are talking serious grounding here, eight feet of copper rod driven down into the ground!
All the external piping is now off the wall and will be buried inside the wall which will make things look a lot better! That means it is time to paint!
I spent three days labeling the wires and researching the circuitry. I think that saved them several hours of work!
The external pipes are gone!
Goodbye Zinsco box and breakers. This box, after 30 years, was a fire hazard, and I am happy to see it go, as I will be set up for solar this summer! The Square-D breakers are about five bucks each instead of sixty for the old Zinscos.
A real rats nest of circuitry!
Closed up for the night. Tomorrow, early, the crew will disconnect the mains on the roof and begin replacing the box and adding the new circuit breakers and wiring. By the end of the day Thursday, we should be in business!!
The opening is now big enough for the main panel!
Meanwhile, inside, Bob put up the wiring for the paper on the shower walls and will get the “tar paper” and a scratch coat of concrete tomorrow. The scratch coat is put on rough so the next or finished coat will stick properly. If the weather stays reasonably warm, Friday will see the float coat, and then tiling can commence forthwith!
Show is ready to go, all we need is a wall!
Since power was going on and off, I decided I could have a hamburger today, so I spent my 650-calorie budget at the local burger joint! Alas, that means no more foodies today.
By 4:00 pm, they were done. I have my new four-gang switch installed. I mean, an extra black wire through the pool conduit so the pool will be properly wired, with ground and neutral separated. Thanks to Bob for his “goose grease” and good ears (it’s a long story).
We added a shelf in the shower for soap and goodies, and we sized it to match the wall tiles. It is going to look wonderful.
I plan to call the pool company tomorrow to have the new LED light installed in the pool.
We are creeping up on getting finished! I predict that on the 4th of July, all will be well!
By 10:00 pm, I was officially crashed!
