If You Build It, They Will Know
Oct 6th, 2007 by Marilyn
What’s the real difference between DIY and not DIY?
If you do it yourself, no one ever has to know how crazy you really are.
Here is a set of cubbyholes in the old, soon-to-be-vacated house. We had it built years ago to store our seemingly endless and possibly reproducing rolls of wrapping paper, and bubble wrap, and poster board, and a few dozen other kinds of paper.
It’s a lot of paper. It’s worth noting that before we started “The Purge” in anticipation of moving, there was something like quadruple the paper you see here. It was like the holy grail of Hallmark overstocks.
Now, here is a spanking new cabinet on the third floor at the new old house.
What? Doesn’t everyone try to duplicate things everywhere they go?
Anyway, if I’d had enough skills courage or luck to build such a thing myself, I wouldn’t have been forced to endure an encounter like this:
Carpenter: So, this thing is going to hold what again?
Marilyn: Um…wrapping paper. Rolls of paper.
Carpenter: Wrapping paper.
Marilyn: Yes. A lot of it.
Carpenter: According to your husband’s drawing, each one gets its own spot.
Marilyn: Well, no, each one doesn’t get their own spot, exactly…uh…but they do get divided, you know.
Carpenter: Divided?
Marilyn: Oh, yes…you know, florals, stripes…um, holidays…
Carpenter: (staring)
Marilyn: …abstract prints, polka dots, funny dogs…
Carpenter: Um…that’s a lot of storage there. Are you sure?
Marilyn: Well, of course there’s bubble wrap, too!
The moral? Don’t tell anyone what stuff you save and where you stuff it. Learn to build things when you’re young. I’m convinced that if you can use a hammer and nails, all your quirks will stay where they belong: just between you and your built-ins.
