Eddie

There is a dear man outside doing yardwork for us. He is a gentle black man, with the style, mannerisms and ethic of the black people I remember from the south, growing up in Louisiana. They are the hardest working people around, and humble and proud all at the same time. He isn't too proud to do this kind of work for an hourly rate, and he isn't too humble to boss around a young white woman a little bit. Matt saw him working in the yard of one of our neighbors, and stopped by on his way out of the neighborhood to ask him if he would be interested in doing some work for us. He agreed to it, and he and Matt have spoken a few times. I met him for the first time today, and had not expected Matt to arrange for him come when he wasn't here, so I was a bit unprepared. I've always got a running handyman/yard work list going, but I get a little shy when it comes time to tell them what I want. I know it's probably good practice for me, but the truth of the matter is that I grew up being on the receiving end of the orders, and into adulthood as well, and I'm still not comfortable being the Mistress of the House. So as I was taking him around to the yard, talking about the beds, I made a comment or two about talking to Matt about what we wanted to do about this or that. I wasn't sure just how much money Matt was thinking about spending, and I assumed I'd be doing some of the work myself, as I normally do. He shook his finger at me and scolded me a little: "Nah, yaw runnin' the show. Come on!" He was telling me to take charge and make some decisions! So funny. Jonny is always a bit of a problem in situations like this because he's soooo friendly and soooo loves to watch and help. My other, more expensive and more annoying handyman (now ex-handyman, thanks to Eddie) would get irritable with him and often yelled before the dog bit him, so to speak. Once he actually yelled at Elena and Hope, who are both much older and very well behaved. Anyway, I usually spend my time reminding Jonny over and over again to go play elsewhere. This morning I started doing the same thing, until Eddie told me to leave him alone and to quit "taking away my help." Jonny is helping take the dirt clumps to the curb, sweeping, and kinda talking his head off. And I don't have to tell you how little help this boy actually is sometimes. :-) But Eddie seems to be as patient and longsuffering as ever, and he has won favor with the Mistress of the House because of it!