This column marks a milestone – 312 columns, and six full years of Reno Boss. Throughout this journey, this column has provided an outlet through which the renovations and construction jobs undertaken are chronicled, a jobsite diary of sorts for posterity. And it is a privilege having been afforded the opportunity to share my renovation and construction experiences with you, every Saturday.
No matter the type of project, whether an interior wall being removed, or a new multi-tiered deck unveiled in the backyard, projects require foundational support. In this industry, tangible support is implemented via design — for example, the lintel above the rough frame of a door or window, or the concrete post pads below the main beam of a deck. As a small business owner, it’s often the intangible support that steadies the operation, and for that I can thank my family and friends who tirelessly cheer me on day to day, month to month.
One person mostly, my favourite person on the planet, has shown me undying support throughout my varied adventures in life, from music to renovations, a woman who isn’t scared of getting her hands dirty and is willing to offer assistance at a moment’s notice, whenever needed — my lovely Carole.
While pondering the last five years of writing columns, it dawned on me how frequently Carole has been to my various jobsites, either for a quick visit or to provide a second set of hands in an effort to help hurry lingering tasks along. Whether securing top decking boards as I finish railings or smashing and tearing out old ceramic tile in preparation for an impending heated flooring installation, Carole always tackles the tasks fearlessly with determination, until the job is done. It’s a comfort to have her by my side at a jobsite, but I’m not certain if she truly realizes just how much I appreciate her.
I recall a scenario several years ago that best describes Carole’s nature to go above and beyond. It was the final day of a deck and fence installation, which just so happened to fall on a Saturday. While on route to the jobsite, the front wheel bearings of my 2015 GMC Crew Cab ruptured. Even at low speeds, any truck movement created a horrendous noise — it was obvious to anyone within earshot that full bearing failure was inevitable. As such, I hobbled my way to the nearest GM dealership to beg for a quick repair. Unfortunately, the fix would take hours, threatening to wreak havoc on my hectic job schedule. While briefly texting this misfortune to Carole, her unprovoked response was both amazing and uplifting — she immediately dropped everything she had planned, picked me up from the dealership (along with my tools) and drove me to the jobsite so I could finish the last day’s tasks while my truck got fixed, allowing me to remain on schedule with the ensuing new project starting the following week. The gesture truly touched me — it was an incredible act of kindness and selflessness, an extremely humbling experience.
Carole is always “there” for me. Whether calming me down when things don’t go as smoothly as they should at the jobsite, or cheering me up after a less than satisfying day, Carole’s support extends far beyond a driver in hand and a bucket of screws, securing decking boards. It is because of this wonderful woman that my desire to achieve, excel and persist remains at optimum levels — she is an incredible lady, and I am so very lucky to call her mine.
We recently got married on a beach, at one of the smaller islands of the Bahamas. And even though Carole makes my every day better, that hot, sunny and breezy oceanside wedding was the best day of my life.
A reliable support system is everything, in construction and in life. Once I finally got up off the couch and sauntered into my studio to write my column (always on Monday nights), a faint “good luck writing” echoed from the other room and filled me with the energy required, after having toiled all day at a new kitchen renovation jobsite.
There’s no denying that the support provided at a jobsite is important — structures would fail without proper support. The same can be said about human beings — without support, holding ourselves up is harder.
Thank you, Carole, for your on-going support and encouragement, and all that you are. I couldn’t do any of it without you, nor would I want to.
RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com
