DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? YOU MAY NEED A GOOD SHAKING!

DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? YOU MAY NEED A GOOD SHAKING!  

The noise was loud and obnoxious, sounding like a bicycle chain inside my washing machine.


After days of hearing this frustrating clanking I decided it was time to have it fixed. 

Looking online for help I came across, Charlie’s Appliance Repair.   I stopped there – not because the ad was so eye catching, but because my Dad’s name was Charlie and he could fix anything….so they had me at, “Charlie.”

He walked in my home that afternoon with the confidence of someone who had been around a washing machine or two. My weak attempt to explain the noise fell short of what it actually sounded like.


Charlie fussed around the machine a bit and lifted the top off while chatting about local politics.  Then suddenly he grabbed the stainless steel tub and vigorously shook it.


I was sure he was going to break the machine further or worse -- hurt himself trying. 

When the shaking stopped, he said,

      “Well, it may not ever make that noise again.
          Seventy-two-o-three.”

Tightening down the screws to put the machine back together he repeated,

     “Yep, it may not do it again.  Seventy-two-o-three.”

I wasn't sure what he meant  and then listened closer to hear,

   “Or if it does, call me.  Seventy-two-o-three.”

I got it on the third comment…. He was saying, “$72.03.” That is what I owed him. 

Confused at what this master of washing machine technology had done, I didn't feel it was a good time to argue, so I quickly grabbed my check book. 

For three days I enjoyed the swirling of my laundry with the soothing swish of water.  No clunking, no clanking, just admiration for the mysterious magic of Charlie’s repair technique.


From time to time my husband would tease me about how I should watch out because if I started to act up he was going to call Charlie and have him come over and give me a good shaking!   

How often in life do we get caught up in a situation or problem and can’t see any way out?  We complain and allow anger and frustration to fill us until it magnifies to a noise level that is more than we can handle.  Sometimes we need a good shaking to wake us up to the fact that the problem isn't that big, isn't that horrible and isn't that life changing.   The answer could be simple and right in front of us.

After a few weeks my washing machine began making the noise again.  This time, although just as loud, it wasn't as irritating as before.  It was just a noise.  

Charlie came back. 

Another few weeks past and the noise returned.  Again just as loud, but now it seemed easy…no problem…no frustration… I just called Charlie.

Every time he walked in with a smile and a new idea about how to tackle the challenge of my washing machine noise.  It took three visits to find the three pennies and a dime that were causing the noise.
Thirteen little cents had caused all the racket and frustration.  It wasn't a big deal.  It wasn't horrible.  But, it was life changing. 

You see, Charlie taught me a few things.
He taught me how sometimes you just need to shake things up to receive an answer.
He taught me that no problem is really that big and everything can be fixed.
And after visiting me three times and spending hours trying to demystify the crazy sound he never charged me again after the original seventy-two-o-three. 

Charlie understands life, how things work and the honesty of completing what you say you will do.

Teachers show up in our lives in many ways.
For me, this teacher showed up at my door wearing a shirt that said, Charlie. 

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Watch for lessons in every moment.  They show up in magical ways in the most unexpected places delivered by every day teachers.” 
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YOUR TURN... 
My intent in sharing this with you is to open your eyes to the lessons before us every day. Who has taught you a lesson in an unexpected way? Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below .  And please feel free to email me  at: PennieHunt@gmail.com. 
                         Thank you!  
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