My friends’ children are all getting married these days and having babies themselves.  When you get to a certain age, girlfriend conversations invariably turn to “what do you think is the most important thing to look for in a mate”.  The amusing answers, rich and employed, are suggested and quickly turn to – loving, a good father, patient, faithful… 

But the answer I constantly come back to is can he/she fix things?

While writing this blog, I’ve struggled with what I’d call my husband.  To call him by his name seems invasive of his privacy, it’s my blog not his.  And husband seems too impersonal.  “Hubby”, “Babe”, “Hon”, “Better Half”…too cutesy and just don’t suit him very well.

I’ve finally decided on “The Fixer”.  

Because that’s exactly what he is.  He fixes things.  He likes the name because it has a cool connotation of a special agent sent in to surreptitiously “clean up” a situation (think of George Clooney as Michael Clayton).  A Fixer has a mastery of skill unachievable by others.  A Fixer covertly gets the job done.  A Fixer belongs to a secret underground society whose exclusive membership includes only the elite problem solvers. 

A Fixer is indispensable. 

A Fixer stealthily swoops in and makes problems disappear.

And this is extremely important in our relationship.  Because if he is the Fixer, I am the Breaker.   And when it comes to power equipment, I’m a champ.  Do you recall the old commercial when the guy says, “Don’t touch it, you’ll break it”?  They were talking to me.  I always mean well but things don’t always turn out well when it comes to me and power equipment.

My grandmother used to say I was like a bull in a china shop.  I come by it naturally. 

I can learn though.  Throughout my gardening career, I have learned to be kinder and gentler to power equipment.  I’ve watched the fixer resuscitate many a nearly-dead machine, like a doctor performing CPR, and I’ve tried to mirror his ways.  But he will always be the king of power equipment.

He is the engine whisperer. 

I’ve heard stories of his bachelor days when entire motorcycles sat apart, in the living room of his apartment, while he patiently and painstakingly rebuilt them.

He comes from a long line of fixers.  His father was a fixer.  We used to joke with the kids that if they had something broken to take it to grandpa – he can fix anything with pliers and a piece of haywire.  We were joking, but it was true.

The beauty of being married to someone who can fix anything is in the money it saves!  Nothing ever has to be purchased new unless you want it new.  Cars, equipment, appliances…everything is fixable by this mechanical savant.

Not only can he fix anything, but he can also build anything.  At our various houses he’s created so many things that have improved our lives.  Fences, garden sheds and raised beds, decks, chicken coops, kid forts and swing sets… all beautifully designed and built.   

My gardening life has been enriched by his ability to fix and build things, but also by his ability to know exactly the right piece of equipment for the job.

As my body ages and pain and injury insert themselves into my life, I appreciate the ease that exquisitely designed equipment brings to my chores.

The best presents he’s given me have been pieces of equipment that I didn’t even know I needed. The Carts Vermont garden cart, the Mantis Compost T-Twin, the Garden Tower, the Diamond Hoe…the list goes on.

See, when you have the gift of being able to fix anything, you also have the gift of appreciating good design and quality workmanship.  Yes, these tools are expensive, but they make my gardening chores so much easier and stand the test of time. 

So, my advice to any young person who will listen is to find yourself a partner who can fix things.  Life is so much easier. 

This week we celebrate our 37^th wedding anniversary and I feel it’s time to officially crown him the king of fixing everything.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful life partner, The Fixer.  My life would be broken without you.

---

Stay up to date on new posts from The Disabled Gardener! Sign up below:

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: