“Oh my God” my mother uttered in disbelief, “why would you buy so many things you have to put together?”
“Stupid, just plain stupid.” he replied. “Can you help?”
“Sure”, mom replied, “but let’s have a beer first.”
As the log fire crackled in the background, we began. Mom grabbed a set of instructions telling us which bolt went where and which slot was slot C. We toasted each success with a release of carbonated beverages. After five or six of these successes, we decided a pot of coffee was needed for any additional success.
Progress was almost halted with the completion of the slot car track. The kid in all of us chose to test its completion, almost sidetracking our efforts. My friend Don’s wife Barb reminded us there was more to assemble, so we reluctantly returned to the assembly line to complete those yet unfinished assemblies. It was about four thirty in the morning, and except for a pile of unused screws, bolts, etc, our job was complete.
Mother and I packed my tools on the sled for the walk back home. Upon arriving home, we needed to complete the pie making we had put on hold. We were giddy. I don’t know if it was a lack of sleep, a few beers, two pots of coffee or the joy of helping a young married couple assemble Christmas for their kids, but it was the best Christmas I’d had.