Grampy, Can Fix It!

Yesterday’s post was a perfect segue into the story I’d like to tell today. Rather than a “Mitch, Fix It!” issue related to automotive service, it was far more important. A genuine crisis concerning our grandson, Oliver’s, animated dinosaur and it’s severed tail. That and the confidence Oliver’s older sister had in my ability to make things right when she pronounced.

“Don’t worry Oliver. It’s OK. Grampy can fix it!”

A moment later, the little guy was standing in front of me, dismembered dinosaur in one hand, toy toolbox in the other, beseeching me to restore order to his otherwise chaotic universe!

I threw myself into the project almost immediately remembering just how much I love tools, working with my hands and just fixing stuff in general. I was focused on how the toy was supposed to go back together and what was preventing it from working as designed. We were successful. With Oliver’s help, of course.  Able to reassemble the toy, albeit without its ability to growl, snarl and/or move. That would require a trip home to Simi and a second surgery.

The nation is secure. The dinosaur works and will be returned to its rightful owner. I was able to revisit the joy of working with my hands and involving all my senses. Able to introduce our grandson to the immediate gratification that comes from taking things apart and putting them back together.

I was able to do all that knowing that I’d get to see the look on his face when something you know he was sure was broken: something that would never work again, comes back to life.