The Wisdom of Having a Stash

Shortly after Marsha and I were married, that would be 67 years ago, I started a stash of nuts, bolts, and screws.  I believe every husband should have one just in case. It is not in the traditional wedding vows, but implicit in the phrase “for better, for worse,” also deeply embedded in the un-spelled-out role expectations of those two little words “I do.”  

Through the decades and numerous moves, I resolutely kept the stash in case I might need it someday. Well, the other day, someday arrived. Marsha’s favorite front porch rock- swivel-glide chair would no longer rock, swivel, and glide. Upon examination, I discerned the kingpin that held the whole thing together was missing and nowhere to be found. Among my choices were:  junk the chair and buy a new one, hire a pricy handyman, take a half day trying to find the missing part in a hardware store OR, go to my stash. 

I poked around amongst hundreds of items I’d built up. Voila! I spotted a bolt that looked like the right size and caliber.  Voila again! It fit. 

Like a knight on a white horse, I approached Marsha on the same day, mind you, she had informed me her chair was broken, and announced “Your chair is fixed. 

“Really? How did you do that so fast?”  

“Oh, no problem. A bolt was missing and I had one in my stash.” 

 “Thank you, thank you! I was afraid we were going to have to buy a new chair,” she said giving me a big hug. 

“You’re welcome,” I said unobtrusively doing a fist pump like a golfer who has just made a winning 20-foot putt.