Lunch break post today. Sippin' on a B&C Fruit Tea and finally getting around to that post about our Habitat Trip. I have to tell you, it feels like these days there are just some things that are a little more important than updating the blog. I sense that everyone else is sort of feeling that way too, considering the dip my Reader has seen these days in entries.
I've gone back and forth about so many things in life right now that are falling "below the line" (you FPU graduates can appreciate the term). But I won't be in denial and I've got no excuses. Somethings are JUST MORE IMPORTANT. BUT. That doesn't mean the stupid things don't get in the way of the important things (like calling your Dad back, sorry Dad!)
Our Habitat Week was fabulous and I've found myself missing the rhythms we found in waking up at 6AM and eating breakfast together, throwing on grubby clothes/work gloves/boots, taking the boat across the lake, hammering/chipping/pounding away at subflooring/tiles/drywall/siding, break times and lunch times, and evenings spent together hiking/playing games/conversing/eating.
The thirteen (and then twelve, after we lost one... to sickness, she had driven separately and went back home, poor thing) of us spent the week working with Habitat of Cleveland on two different projects.
Project One (for good weather days - Tues/Weds): Construction on two homes in a Habitat Subdivision.
One home was in the final stages (on the outerworks) of preparation, so most of the manwork on that house went into siding. Cliff, another student, and I were paired with an almost full-time volunteer who showed us the ropes of siding (which I LOVE) and monitored our progress. Cliff was the expert hammerer and I, the expert measurer. We made a good team. Being up on the scaffolding (with no harness or belay) was kind of exhiliratingly terrifying but a great experience. Once we got to the point of no return on siding, there was plenty of opportunity for us to join up with the team that was next door working on the other house. House two was in the beginning stages of construction, so we put out floor trusses and nailed down subflooring. And there's not a lot of science involved with that, but we made it kind of like a game and that made the time that much more enjoyable. The gentleman who's home the foundation/trusses/subflooring would one day turn into joined us for both days out on the worksite. It's an incredible experience, sharing in the effort it takes to build a Habitat Home with the person it will one day benefit.
Project Two (for bad weather days - Mon/Thurs/Fri): Demolition on a rundown theater Habitat purchased to turn into a consolidated location for their Headquarters, HomeStore, and Construction Facility.
While the lovechild of Habitat, this was probably the most challenging and somehow rewarding part of the week. It felt odd to do both construction and demolition, but when we saw how much this was going to be able impact the work Habitat does in Cleveland, you couldn't help but feel good about it. And, there's something incredibly therapeutic about wielding a sledgehammer and beating down walls. Not to mention packing and hacking away for hours at ancient tiling practically cemented to cinder blocks. With hair and nostrils filled with dust and whatever else drywall is made up of, we left those workdays sore and in much need of rest.
Our evening festivities include two sunset hikes, a night out on the town (i.e. the bowling alley/local Starbucks), game nights, and lots of really good (if I don't say so, myself) food. We closed out the week with a trip to Chattanooga on Saturday, complete with a final lunch together, a visit to the Aquarium, and treats at Ben & Jerry's. It was actually kind of sad when we all parted ways, the van bound for Nashville and the two of us heading back into Cleveland to celebrate Cliff's mom's birthday. We'd spent a week with people who were mostly strangers and turned out to be friends - people we could trust to look out for us in sometimes dangerous situations.
We loved everything about our week together and look forward to more opportunities to do something like this again!
I've gone back and forth about so many things in life right now that are falling "below the line" (you FPU graduates can appreciate the term). But I won't be in denial and I've got no excuses. Somethings are JUST MORE IMPORTANT. BUT. That doesn't mean the stupid things don't get in the way of the important things (like calling your Dad back, sorry Dad!)
Our Habitat Week was fabulous and I've found myself missing the rhythms we found in waking up at 6AM and eating breakfast together, throwing on grubby clothes/work gloves/boots, taking the boat across the lake, hammering/chipping/pounding away at subflooring/tiles/drywall/siding, break times and lunch times, and evenings spent together hiking/playing games/conversing/eating.
The thirteen (and then twelve, after we lost one... to sickness, she had driven separately and went back home, poor thing) of us spent the week working with Habitat of Cleveland on two different projects.
Project One (for good weather days - Tues/Weds): Construction on two homes in a Habitat Subdivision.
One home was in the final stages (on the outerworks) of preparation, so most of the manwork on that house went into siding. Cliff, another student, and I were paired with an almost full-time volunteer who showed us the ropes of siding (which I LOVE) and monitored our progress. Cliff was the expert hammerer and I, the expert measurer. We made a good team. Being up on the scaffolding (with no harness or belay) was kind of exhiliratingly terrifying but a great experience. Once we got to the point of no return on siding, there was plenty of opportunity for us to join up with the team that was next door working on the other house. House two was in the beginning stages of construction, so we put out floor trusses and nailed down subflooring. And there's not a lot of science involved with that, but we made it kind of like a game and that made the time that much more enjoyable. The gentleman who's home the foundation/trusses/subflooring would one day turn into joined us for both days out on the worksite. It's an incredible experience, sharing in the effort it takes to build a Habitat Home with the person it will one day benefit.
Project Two (for bad weather days - Mon/Thurs/Fri): Demolition on a rundown theater Habitat purchased to turn into a consolidated location for their Headquarters, HomeStore, and Construction Facility.
While the lovechild of Habitat, this was probably the most challenging and somehow rewarding part of the week. It felt odd to do both construction and demolition, but when we saw how much this was going to be able impact the work Habitat does in Cleveland, you couldn't help but feel good about it. And, there's something incredibly therapeutic about wielding a sledgehammer and beating down walls. Not to mention packing and hacking away for hours at ancient tiling practically cemented to cinder blocks. With hair and nostrils filled with dust and whatever else drywall is made up of, we left those workdays sore and in much need of rest.
Our evening festivities include two sunset hikes, a night out on the town (i.e. the bowling alley/local Starbucks), game nights, and lots of really good (if I don't say so, myself) food. We closed out the week with a trip to Chattanooga on Saturday, complete with a final lunch together, a visit to the Aquarium, and treats at Ben & Jerry's. It was actually kind of sad when we all parted ways, the van bound for Nashville and the two of us heading back into Cleveland to celebrate Cliff's mom's birthday. We'd spent a week with people who were mostly strangers and turned out to be friends - people we could trust to look out for us in sometimes dangerous situations.
We loved everything about our week together and look forward to more opportunities to do something like this again!
2 comments:
Like you, I've had a blog slump. My reader is very quiet as well in my circle of friends. But I get it. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around what I desperately want to put to words on a screen. The quiet just isn't quiet enough.
Glad to read of your great trip! Let's have coffee again soon! We just opened a fresh bag of Sumatra last night...hurry! :)
That sounds amazing, Kristine! I would love to do that someday. I'm glad you had a great experience.
Post a Comment