In Hot Water

We got the hot tub fixed! Last November when our priest moved on, we bought their hot tub. In all the confusion, somehow we missed the part about “blowing out” the empty tub being important and instead we let the water sit in the pipes after it was drained for the move, and it froze in there and blew out a part of the heater. So after moving and installing it, with visions of winter hot tub parties in out heads, we were pretty bummed to find out that as fast as the water went in, the water came out! The hot tub guys told us that since it was already frozen solid, to fix it at that point would require a haul into the shop, a spendy proposition, to say the least. If we waited until spring, we were told, it would be less so, though how much less, they could not be sure. So for seven long months I have been reproached by this thing as it sat there not working. There were times I have in my mind called it Kate’s folly and the world’s most expensive redwood planter. I asked myself what had I been thinking to even buy the darn thing in the first place. But sometimes gratification delayed is the best of all. Because last night for three, count ‘em, three, glorious hours, the Dear One and I sat and pruned ourselves silly. Consumed a bottle of good wine, watched the sun set and the stars come out and talked and talked and talked. Remembered who we were. Took time to recall what it was that brought us together in the first place. Gently touched some of the bruised places that need healing between us. Laughed some, a lot actually. It was a wonderful baptism for our tub as in water and the Spirit new life came forth.