The Striptease That Wouldn’t End
Posted: Sunday, December 05, 2010
by Brianna Popsickle
"Has he been here?" my husband asked anxiously the minute he stepped in the door.
It had become the question of the day for the past month.
No, he wasn't referring to my secret lover who (just between us) comes discreetly twice a week. He was referring to the contractor we'd hired months ago to do our kitchen renovation.
Unlike drywall guy who wouldn't leave, it seemed we couldn't get contractor guy to come, let alone stay.
So in answer to, Has he been here?' My reply was, "For about twenty minutes." I pointed to the tools he'd left behind, and added optimistically, "But I think he might be coming back."
Sometimes he did. More often he didn't.
"What did he do?" my husband would ask, scanning the kitchen, which looked exactly as it had when he left in the morning.
"He dropped off that box," I said.
We looked at the box then at each other. We shook our heads and sighed.
Our plan was to celebrate the new kitchen with a Halloween party but had soon realized that was an unrealistic goal. We settled on the idea of a Christmas get-together. But it was starting to look as though a New Year's party may even be a bit presumptuous.
People who'd been asking daily, How's the kitchen coming?' had stopped asking. It was like asking someone with a terminal illness how they're feeling each day. You already knew the answer and you knew they were tired of talking about it.
Slowly, boxes were built and we were able to move dishes and food back into the kitchen. A makeshift counter was put in place and plumbing temporarily installed to make the transition less painful.
Being home during the day, I'd become accustomed to the contractor coming and going on his own schedule. My husband, however, was becoming frustrated. He liked to get things done, and the longer the project dragged on, the more tense he became.
It was a little awkward the last time we found ourselves in the kitchen with the contractor at the same time. I hate confrontation, and I knew my husband was to his limit. I swallowed hard as he eyed contractor and started to speak.
"You're a great guy, we really like ya, you do great work, but this kitchen has turned into a striptease that won't end. Ya know? It starts out and I'm all happy, and just when I'm set to be really happy, there's another veil."
The contractor and I looked at each other and then at my husband. Here was a guy ready to snap. I understood where he was coming from. I'd had my moments too.
For me, the anticipation of something has often been greater than getting it. Like the party I look forward to for weeks, only to go and have it end early. Or the piece of chocolate cake waiting as a reward at the end of a diet, only to take one bite and realize I no longer wanted it.
I'd been looking at pictures of kitchens for years and dreaming of the day I'd have a new one. I don't think I ever really assumed that day would come. Even now, fifty-two days into the reno, I still wasn't convinced it was going to happen.
The contractor's assured us by the end of next week we should really start to see things coming together. To use my husband's analogy, much like a striptease, I still have hope once the final veil is removed from my kitchen, revealing the hard, glistening granite, the soft curve of the goose-necked faucet and smooth finish of the nickel-plated hardware, we'll be left feeling content and satisfied.
But for now I have to say, the anticipation is killing me!
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More commentsBrianna, you are fortunate to have memories and family to think about during the holidays. I know this guy up the next farm. He comes from a big, close-knit family. Nowadays they can all only get together every other year or so. I ask him how he handles it. he said, when it’s a year they are getting together, he visualizes what it will be like being around all his family for the first twenty-four hours-everything is happy and all in a high spirit.
So I ask him what he does the years he can’t get together. He tells me he remembers what it’s like after the twenty-four hours and relations wears thin; funny how the mind can be creative to ease pain. Happy holidays
Good article, Brianna. As you can gather from all the replies, you have struck a chord with a great many people. I would believe that everyone has had a story or a time which your story illustrates. Life has its disappointments, sometimes at the hands of those we love and/or respect the most. Of course, I read it because it had the word "striptease" in the title!Well now I know what get's your attention Donovan! Thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it.
Such provocative content. ;-) Your word selection left me in LOLzville quite a bit.Was it the hard glistening granite or the soft curve of the goose-necked faucet that got your attention? I"m just kidding you. Thanks for reading and commenting Steve.
Beautifully done, and exquisitely tempting. Here's hoping it looks as good with it's clothes off, as it sounds with it's clothes on. Good day.Here's hoping! Thanks for reading and commenting David. I appreciate it!
The anticipation is killing me too Brianna. Its not often my prayers involve kitchens but I pray you will get your kitchen soon.
Keep well
KacyWell Kacy, we're in day three of a snowstorm and my contractor is an avid skier. That can't be good. :) Our granite arrived last week but is too big. It has to be returned to the city, but bad roads have delayed it. Tomorrow perhaps! I will keep you posted. Thanks for reading (and for your prayers). lol
Brianna, so sorry it's taking so damn long. I know this scenario so well. GRRR. It sounds to me like you're just too nice to Mr. Contractor. He's probably over-booked himself, and is doing the work for the people who harass him, and leaving the nice people like you dangling :(It will get done eventually. It was nice to vent though to such understanding people! Did you enjoy your birthday? Hope so. Thanks Jennifer.
Loved your article. I have empathy for you, we just went through that trying to get the fixtures changed in our house. The plumber had his own agenda. The catchy title was great. Linda DI love it when people can relate to a story. It seems many could with this one, like you with your plumber. When my husband said the whole striptease thing, I thought, I have to write about this, it was just too funny. Thanks for reading and commenting Linda, I appreciate it.
Must be how kids feel when we wrap the presents early and they have to stare at them for two weeks before they can open them-LOL I know you're excited- I would be too!- Hope you love it- Always- EllaIt's a good thing the kitchen isn't done. I almost started a fire last night. Left something on high (which Im known for) and got talking on the phone in another room. Let's just say it got a tad smokey and I thought, Thank God my new cabinets weren't in yet. :) Always a bright side. Thanks Ella, I know I'll love it!
I am sorry for your dilemma but hopefully by now things have been taken care of. Or still left half done ?Let's just say it's a work in progress . . . Stormy weather has delayed the granite being sent back etc. It will be beautiful when it's done. Maybe I should think about some cooking classes in the meantime? :) Thanks for reading and commenting Hilda. It's nice to hear from you.
Brianna, are you saying that you have a secret lover??? Who cares about your kitchen if you're cheating on your husband?Shhhh Finnegan, that was just between us and so far you seem to be the only one that noticed. lol Thanks for reading and commenting.I guess I wasn't sure if I should take that as a joke or if you were being genuine....I snuck that in for a little comic relief , my husband got it! I figured the sad, sad, tale of my kitchen reno needed a little humour at least. Thanks for catching it Finnegan!
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