Spare the Duct Tape, Spoil the Job

Tim Taylor on Home Improvement taught us the more power the better (no matter the consequences) and Red Green taught us “the handyman’s secret weapon is duct tape,” demonstrating we should not believe everything we see on television. These handy tips have not helped me become a handy-man. 

I own all of the necessary tools to conquer any loose screws around my apartment. Mind you, the tools are in a purple toolkit, but a hammer is a hammer, no matter the colour. 

I have been Ms. Toolman lately – I have fixed my bedroom door that was not closing properly, I replaced base boards, I am always hanging pictures and curtain rods and I have even dealt with an uninvited critter (I am a renter, but who needs landlords, right?)

Thankfully, nothing has blown up and no duct tape has been needed until one day at work… I assure you nothing blew up. 

In Surprise Planning 101, I was able to fix my mistake. Today, I was unable to fix an umbrella.

For our monthly picnics this Summer, I purchased two cute umbrellas from the Superstore – cute, not tall. I did not realize how short the umbrellas were and when placed in the middle of the picnic table, the umbrella rested on my chest. 

For the entire picnic, we held the umbrellas to shade the residents. We quickly realized this was not ideal – one cannot hold an umbrella with one hand and eat with the other (I have a hard enough time with two hands).

A friendly (gawking) neighbour had witnessed our involuntary service during the picnic and donated an old patio umbrella that they no longer use. It was perfect.

It was perfect until it was left out following an activity and the wind took it for a ride. 

We hadn’t realized it was broken until we went to set up for the next picnic. Could duct tape save the day?

We tried taping that umbrella every which way. We had that umbrella turned upside down and left-side up trying to duct tape the rod back together. We were determined even though the wind was not in our favour and our end goal was not realistic. Once taped, we placed the umbrella into the picnic table only to find one side very saggy and yes, still broken. We kept the umbrella where it was for the remainder of the picnic. It was not serving a purpose, we just wanted people to know we tried. 

How many recreation therapists does it take to fix an umbrella? More than two.

As Red Green also says, “Spare the duct tape and spoil the job” – it seems we did both.