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Several weeks ago, the American Cancer Society called again to ask if I needed help with anything. They had previously hooked me up with their Road to Recovery Program, which provided rides to Bangor for chemotherapy treatment for which I am so grateful. I was nearing the end of my chemotherapy, but that itself takes months to recover from. And of course, my financial needs are greater than ever without even the small income I was able to produce prior to diagnosis, surgery, and treatment of Breast Cancer. They have other programs to provide tangible help and services that I qualified for. I am overwhelmed with many needs and it is hard to prioritize, but it seemed to me that the entrance decks to my house were in such disrepair that they were dangerous and just an accident waiting to happen, and definitely in need of replacement. Representative members of an ACS local affiliate group called on me a couple of days later, then came back with a volunteer carpenter who took measurements and drew up a materials list.
On Saturday, July 19, 2008, the Mid-Coast Men's Christian Ministry Group (Morrill) had their monthly meeting here at my house. A great group of guys spent the day demolishing the old rotting decks that were such a dangerous hazard, and rebuilding new ones with donated lumber from Viking Lumber, a local quality business here in the Mid-Coast area.
After demolishing old entrance deck, preparations are made for new one.
Gary makes kindling out of old deck.
In the side yard the younger boys are learning how to run a hydraulic power wood splitter.
5 or 6 guys make short work of finishing up the cordwood left over from last year that I never got a chance to do last Fall before I got sick.
Looking down from new front deck on wood pile all cut, split, and stacked, ready for the woodstove this winter.
New kitchen entrance deck.
New Front Entrance Deck!
Note: I made the new storm doors myself!
I am sooooo grateful to everyone who helped with this project. It will take me a while to recover from the effects of chemotherapy and regain my strength back, and I realize even that might be a little overly optimistic, but I remain hopeful. The fact is that right now, there was no way I could ever possibly do these tasks myself. I couldn't even afford the materials if I was able to do the work! It was depressing to think about and I worried about it every day, wondering how it would ever get done, and hoping no accident happened before that day. This local group, so generous with their time and talent took a big load off my mind, and allowed me to focus on getting better. Their cheerful camaraderie and obvious enjoyment of spending the day with each other and helping someone (me) out who so obviously needed the help restored my sense of being part of our local community.
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