Virgil's plan to add more stones to the abundant supply on Rock Crest encountered yet another hitch today. Faithful readers may recall that Virgil ordered yards of ornamental stone, had them dumped in the front, then purchased a cheap wheelbarrow for hauling them to the back. At this point, he fled north, leaving behind the pile of rocks and the dubious explanation that he couldn't haul them because in the cold, they had frozen together like popsicles.Then, in a gross misapplication of available skill sets, he suggested that Stan undertake the hauling in his absence. This miscarriage has been posted earlier, and despite ample opportunity to comment, no one has yet questioned the morality of tasking a 60-year-old grandfather with carrying countless loads of stone up a tortuous path under an unforgiving Tucson sun.
Today, after a mere dozen loads of Arizona aggregate, Virgil's TruTemper wheelbarrow had had enough and developed a flat tire.
The event invites historic comparisons to his late father, Erling, who once purchased an $89 lawnmower with an 18-inch blade because he had three boys to push it. After they left home, a John Deere lawn tractor, with cushioned seat, appeared in the estate garage.
Fortunately, Leno Masolini arrived to assist Stan and Kathleen with a tire pump. The rocks have been moved, the chore has been checked off Virgil's punch list, and we're admiring our work.Finally finishing the job has allowed us to engage in one of the more popular, time-honored activities here at Saddlebrooke: washing, rinsing and polishing your driveway. We did that part on our own, without prompting, happy to do it. It could have been snow and ice.
