There’s an old joke going around about how many folk singers or how many therapists it takes to change a light bulb. I have a new twist on it.
How many men does it take to fix an ailing driveway? I suppose it depends on whether the men are going to use concrete or stone or asphalt. Or maybe whether this is a job they’re being paid for or have to do because it wasn’t done properly in the first place. In our case, it’s the latter situation.
We’ve been waiting for the asphalt people to show up for months. Wednesday, they keep telling us. Next Wednesday. And, true to their word, they showed up last Wednesday and did the first layer to remedy the problem. They were about to go away when Earl stopped them and said, “The asphalt is an inch or so lower than the rest of the driveway.” “Oh, don’t worry, “the driver of the asphalt truck said. “We’ll be back next Wednesday for the second coat.”
Earl and I thought progress was being made. Today, again a Wednesday, three men showed up in a noisy truck that beeped incessantly as it backed into the work area. These were noises worthy of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and voices that were complaining about their wives. Our windows were open; we heard every word. For twenty minutes the three men examined the project, opened and closed the doors to the truck, and finally determined they didn’t have enough asphalt for this project. They climbed into the vehicle and drove away, leaving the one inch discrepancy in the ratio to the new asphalt vs. the old asphalt.
What struck me most was the motto emblazoned on the side of their truck: It said, “Asphalt: Paving the way to excellence.” What could Earl and I do but laugh? At the same time, this raises a serious question. How many men does it take to fix an ailing driveway. Apparently three are not enough.
And for the record, it takes four folksingers to change a light bulb, one to change the bulb and three to sing about it. As for the therapists, it only takes one . . . but the light bulb has got to WANT to change.
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