19 Comments
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Susan McCorkindale's avatar

Loved this, Don. I admit, I was getting worked up for you while reading (days like that make me crazy) but you showed me the way. Maybe someday I'll get to retire and become "cool" with chaos! Stay resilient, my friend!

Don Akchin's avatar

Thank you, Susan. I'm glad you could relate.

Jacke Schroeder's avatar

OY VEY !

I saw the lined cars, the resurfacing bank lot, and the group outside of Starbucks…and thought to myself, “I should share another grilled cheese and chai with Don!”

Jacke L. Schroeder's avatar

Let’s reconnect after the High Holidays!

Judith Posner's avatar

excellent! And how on earth did we manage this stuff when we all had full-time jobs as well?

Don Akchin's avatar

We were just more stressed, I guess.

Amy L Bernstein's avatar

This is where it really pays to have the gift of perspective that only a lot of years on the tires can give us. It was a day of exorbitant frustrations and events beyond your control: But we've all been through worse, and we know it. So we see it for what it is, despite the momentary outbursts of "You've got to be f****ing kidding me!"

Don Akchin's avatar

Patience. Restraint. Deep calming breaths.

WAYNE CHRISTENSEN's avatar

Sorry. So sorry!

Amy's avatar

OMG! So glad you somehow survived all that. The kitchen will be beautiful and you two will love it. The bank part was awful! I know a few people who’ve had that happen to them. Ugh! But hey… they must’ve unfrozen your funds so you could take out a loan to pay for that Starbucks strawberry lemonade! 🤣

Don Akchin's avatar

And on very lenient terms!

Kathy Glennon's avatar

Yup…resilience. And hoping you get your kitchen back to normal sooner rather than later.

Don Akchin's avatar

We share that hope, Kathy.

Stella Fosse's avatar

Wow. One lesson I take from this is: I will sell and move before I will ever remodel a kitchen. Good on you for keeping your equilibrium.

Don Akchin's avatar

We're doing it in part because we're committed to staying for the duration.

WENDL Kornfeld's avatar

What smart conclusions you've gleaned, Don. My mantra when I find myself in a situation that would've previously thrown me is, "It'll all work out. Because it has to." (Remembering to deep-breathe, too.) You're going to end up with the kitchen of your dreams.

Don Akchin's avatar

Thanks, Wendl. More accurately, I will enjoy ending up in the kitchen of my wife's dreams.