Water Nemesis

My Mental Health Disorder

Margaret E. Holt aka Margherita Cilantro Foustanella

I am sharing this with family and friends, because I recognize that I have this mental health disorder, and I need some guidance on how to handle it.  It relates to water.  “Nemesis” water. 

Fortunately not too often, but perhaps once or twice a year there is a “small” emergency in our home related to water.  Last year, an old water heater developed a small hole and water began leaking and accumulating all over the basement.   When I tried to locate a plumber, several said they couldn’t come at this time but they would put me on the list for tomorrow.  This response moves me into a catatonic, dysfunctional mood.  Stell is absolutely calm and will say things like “ignore it. We will get someone to come tomorrow.”  I can’t ignore it.  Although I don’t have carpet in the basement there are things that touch the floor and I have no idea how much water is going to continue flowing.  Finally, I got ahold of Armour Plumbing, and Gary Armour and his wife Sherrie came out to the house.   Sherrie must have sensed my distraught, because she suggested she’d like a glass of wine.   Gary proceeded to unhook the broken water heater and for several hours into the evening he mopped up the wet mess.  We never got a bill?   I called once to ask about a bill, and the receptionist said she was sure they would eventually get around to sending one, but they never did. 

Yesterday, when I came home from walking, Stell came upstairs and said we’ve got “water in the basement”.  This time it was concentrated mostly on the floor of the laundry room and adjacent bathroom.  Again, Stell the cucumber, had this response like let’s just ignore this for a while, and maybe it will stop.  This sends me into a frenzy.  I have never known water coming across any floor to just STOP.  I called three or four plumbing companies (of course one was Armour Plumbing), and they all said they had too many other customers.  Finally, I reached Summers Plumbing.  They sent two bumpkins who just looked at the floor, the drain, and the drain pipe outside, determined it was plugged and that we would probably need have the septic tank pumped.   They don’t pump septic tanks so they advised me to contact this other well and plumbing company.   By the way, they had told me on the phone that just for coming by their fee was $150.  For some reason, they took pity on me (actually they hadn’t done a damn thing) and charged me $75.00 for dropping by, because they were hopeful I would call them in the future.  It will never happen.  I called the septic tank number, and “Shelia” said she would try to reach the technician.   She called much later in the afternoon and said that the technician would not be available until tomorrow.  I’m completely frazzled and exhausted, so I meekly said “okay.”  Shelia called back in the morning and said unfortunately their technician would not be able to take the job.   They have been too busy because of all the rain.  

In the meantime, Stell called our old well and septic tank people and yelled at them for various infractions I won’t go into here, and they said they would come out today.  They have come and gone.  It’s almost 5:30 p.m. and the septic tank has been pumped and the water has receded and things are drying up in the downstairs.   Water is my nemesis.  The words, “there is water in the basement” sends me into a panic realm.  I think (you might not agree) that this is my most serious mental health disorder, but I think it is.  If you know a psychiatrist I should see or have some techniques to help me through the next water crisis, I would be most appreciative.   Thank goodness I don’t live in Nebraska.