Last night I spent 3 hours putting together a desk for mom. It started months ago when mom said she wanted a desk for her room. Melinda agreed and told me to get mom a desk. Of course I got her the desk for her birthday. The thing is I ordered it from walmart.com. What that meant was mom would call me every other day - "where's my desk". Then when it got there it was in a box and I would then get a new call "when are going to put the desk together?" At which time I would say "Wednesday night."

So last Wednesday comes and I get there and open the box only to read the instructions and determine that I don't have the equipment. I needed a drill, a screwdriver, a hammer and a tape measure. So I then told her I have to go get that stuff. On Saturday I went to Home Depot to purchase said things. I took the instructions with me so I could remember what to get. I needed a new drill anyways as my old one was lost in the move. So I go to mom's room with the tools ready to put the things together. Then it happened. I forgot the drill. I must have left it at home depot. So I went back to home depot and in the parking lot I noticed that the drill had slid under the backseat. Happy that I found it I went back to mom's room to put it together. Then at her room it happened again. I lost the instructions. I searched her room, I searched the van, I searched everywhere. By that time I was ready to go home so I told mom I would download the instructions online and come back next week, knowing I would get calls about it every day.

As I was driving home I thougt, what if I left the instructions at Home Depot? So stopped by and looked in the carts - not there. Then I went inside to see if I left it at the counter. Not there. I talked to the clerk and she said she hadn't seen any. So as I walk to the parking lot, defeated, I spot on the ground the instructions. They are a little covered in dirt, but they are viable. I can't believe it. I walked back in to Home Depot and waved them in the air "I found them" I say victoriously. Then I knew I would be putting it together this week.

So last night I read the instructions. I follow it to a tee and as I do I start to laugh. The pieces are all kind of small. This desk is not an adult desk, it is a kids desk. However, it has 4 drawers and a good writing area. It is just a foot smaller than a normal desk, but mom is short anyways so it will work. Towards the end of my reading and following directions I start to wonder, what was the drill for? What was the tape measure for? In the end I had put it all together and never used the drill or the tape measure. As I put the drawers in and things start sticking I realize what it should have been used for - aligning the tracks. I was close enough to get them in. Just don't use the bottom drawer as it has a habit of falling out. I should have taken a victory lap as I completed my masterpiece. And people think nerds can't do carpentry...