Kyle got a shed. I think I’m supposed to say “WE” got a shed; except that “we” wrongly assumed our garage would serve as a place for storing garage-related items and not dance parties (or whatever Kyle and his buddies do out there), therefore negating the need for a separate out-building. My participation in the acquisition of the shed was to select its colors: black and white, the same as our house. That decision took five seconds.
However, in my forty-eight hours of (Kyle’s) shed ownership, I have come to the realization that while the shed may look like four walls and a roof, it’s really the shape of friendship.
According to the irrefutable source of all scientific knowledge, WebMD, there are six steps to making friends:
- Start the conversation.
- Show interest.
- Smile.
- Share.
- Do a small favor.
- Keep it going.
Like a tree falling in the forest, is a shed even a shed if you don’t use it to talk about sheds? The answer is no. Which meant:
STARTING THE CONVERSATION/SHOWING INTEREST
Starting from the day we moved in, every visitor of the dad persuasion made their way to the backyard so as to discuss shed-related matters.
“I need a shed,” Kyle would say.
“Yeah,” the dads would reply. “Shed’d be good. You thinking an overhead garage door?”
“Nah,” Kyle would say, knowingly. “Can’t go too big; gotta leave room for the rink.”
“Yeah,” the dads would nod, also knowingly. “Should we run over to Menards and get some wood?”
Which would be my cue to lean out the door and shout,
“He’s not going to build it!”
To which the dads would laugh – they had fun-ruining wives, too. Also, their laughter, as it were, was a facial movement related to:
SMILING
The #1 thing in the world that makes people happy: Love. The number two: Sheds. There’s nothing more fun than some gentle shed-based ribbing.
Kyle and the dads were having a fire over at our neighbor’s house. As one would expect, the conversation turned to the neighbor’s shed and Kyle’s lack thereof.
“Hey, when’s that shed coming?” They asked Kyle, knowing full well he hadn’t yet ordered it (The Kosiors are the world’s foremost browsers-before-you-buyers; for example, his dad once went to four different stores TWICE each before purchasing a bagful of screws).
“I’m waiting for [one of the dads who also regularly laments his lack of shed] to get one first,” Kyle said, and everyone laughed; teasing is enjoyable.
“Maybe we should take down that portion of the fence and just extend my shed over,” our neighbor said. “Like a double-wide. We could double our storage space.” Then everyone stopped laughing because that was an infallibly good idea.
“If we’re going to take down fencing, we should build one of those fence bars between our two houses,” Kyle said – since, as we know, caring is:
SHARING
An important part of building friendships is to share your commonality through subtle gestures that communicate, “Yes, I, too, am educated on sheds.”
“What kind of a foundation are you thinking?” One of the dads asked after the conversation on fence bars had reached a temporary end.
“Probably sand,” Kyle said. “You know, ‘case I want to move it.”
“Yeah,” another dad said. “Sand’s good. I did sand once. I have concrete now so I can park my boat.”
“Yeah, gotta get a boat,” Kyle said. “After the shed.”
Which was my cue to lean out the door and shout,
“We’re not getting a boat!”
“Hey, I’ve got a sand guy,” one of the dads said once the laughter – wives, amirite?! – died down. “I can call him, if you want.” Because, of course, one of the hallmarks of friendship is:
DOING A SMALL FAVOR
After many, many of these discussions, it was confirmed by my husband and the dads that YES, the backyard site Kyle had initially selected while touring the house with the realtor was, in fact, the right one. However, that particular location required the moving of a small tree. After many, many additional discussions on that particular tree and trees in general (“I’ve got a tree guy”), our neighbor volunteered to help relocate it. Digging up and replanting that tree took thirty minutes. Retelling the story of digging up and replanting that tree (spoiler: it went as expected) carried over for several more months.
That neighbor has actually carried the bulk of the very important small favors, including coming over to look at the postholes when the fence was removed to make way for the shed, asking about the delivery date of the shed, and looking at the new shed once it was installed (and also storing the aforementioned hockey rink while waiting for the shed – thank you, Shane).
And, speaking of install:
KEEPING IT GOING
The shed was delivered over the lunch hour on Monday. I came home “to see the shed,” as per request. When I got there, Kyle and the shed guy were standing in the backyard, deep in conversation. Kyle came in a few minutes later, excited (for Kyle).
“The guy who delivered the shed is a beauty,” he said. “I’m going to make him a coffee.”
“That’s great,” I said.
“Did you see the shed?” He said.
“Yes,” I said. “Very nice. Maybe you can invite the shed guy over to see it once you have all your stuff in it.”
“Yeah,” Kyle said. “Maybe I should have a shed party.”
“Whatever you want,” I said, because friendship is spelled s-h-e-d.
The photo above is of Kyle (and his beret) and his shed.
This week’s news has happy haybales and a great idea for a Halloween tradition. Read on.
Bismarck’s Cleary Family created a tradition of trick-or-treating for food donations for the Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry – a tradition that has since been picked up by Evan Pena now that the Cleary kids have gone off to college. (KFYR TV)
This is the list of some of the friendliest haybales in North Dakota. (103.3)
Happy 112th birthday to Grafton’s Clarabell Demers! According to the article, Clarabell is the oldest person in North Dakota and the 41st oldest in the world. (Fargo Forum)
Bob Vila is (virtually) on his way to Nome to award the Nome Schoolhouse the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award. (Fargo Forum)
And speaking of awards, Fargo’s Nora Becker won a ticket to a taping of “Saturday Night Live” after entering the show’s annual essay contest. (Fargo Forum)
And speaking of Fargo, Fargo’s Bob Matthews is known around Hollywood for his woodwork on movie and television porches and decks. (KFYR TV)
This is the cute story of how Lulu the pig joined White Shield’s DeHaven family. (KFYR TV)
Let’s Be (Official) Pals!
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