I’ve gotten a lot accomplished on my vehicles lately, and it has made me proud – just a few years ago I wouldn’t have known where to start under the hood of a car. Now I have a Mercedes that is ready to run on 100% vegetable oil, and I did it largely on my own – or I should say, without instructive help, I had many helpers. I’m tinkering with electronics, fixing things on my own. It feels great. Changing in such a short span of time from something that was wholly foreign to something accessible makes me aware of the things I’m already proficient in. It also reminds me of how easy that jump can be.
Today Nishi and I drove to Miner St to work on the bus a bit. Last week we got the two large benches dismantled and set aside. The inside of the bus is opening up. As I turned off my truck, I went to turn off the lights and the knob popped off. The little mechanism the plastic knob attached to was just hanging by its wires inside the dashboard, and wouldn’t stay put on its own. I unscrewed and popped off the large plastic piece covering the area under the steering wheel, and unbolted the metal plate underneath that. Just screws and bolts. I was then able to reach up and hold the mechanism in place as I re-attached the plastic knob. Fixed! There’s a mental block that needs to be passed, after which it all becomes clear. It’s just screws and bolts.
My mom asked us to stay for dinner. I’ve long asserted when talking with her that the difference between generations in regards to technology is that my generation plays with things, while her generation exercises far more caution. They treat the new computer like a luxury car that needs to be carefully maintained and driven on well paved roads. I’m swapping the engine and installing wings. No one told me I couldn’t. She mentioned her amazement that I was able to do that fix today on my own. I think the only difference between me and her is that I was shown that I could do this.
Before Grey Fox this year, Ali and I were making preparations on the bus. We were getting things packed and sorted and generally figured out. The cast iron propane burner that we’ve been cooking on had suffered a few falls, and a few legs had broken off. As a result it couldn’t sit level anymore, and this needed to be fixed. I grabbed a 2×4, a circular saw, and a drill. I cut four small lengths, screwed them into a small box, and screwed the burner to it. Problem solved. It took maybe five minutes. Ali remarked about how he hadn’t seen something like that before. I can easily remember when I could have said the same. I just had to be shown that it was possible. These are things I could do.