It’s often a sign of good character to recognize your flaws. Once you admit you have a problem, you can take steps to correct it. At least in theory.
I’m remarkably stubborn. I’m also fiercely independent. I hate asking for help. This combination often takes a turn for the worse. In the stupidest of ways.
When we arrived our humongous kitchen had a flaw. No dishwasher. I thought at first that was the standard here but I quickly learned how wrong I was. Facilities and General Services (GSO) offered to come install one; everyone else had dishwashers, so why shouldn’t we?
Well, because I’m an idiot.
When they asked, I stubbornly said no. I could handle it. I didn’t want to ask for help. I didn’t want to knock out some cabinets. I came up with all kinds of excuses.
Then we started hosting events. You know how annoying it is to hand wash everything after having a dishwasher for almost three years? Very. The same dirty dishes that were easily hidden now piled in the tiny sink and overflowed onto the very limited counter space. I hate a messy sink so this was a bit of a nightmare for me.
So now, after six months, I caved. Take the cabinets! Just give me a way to wash dishes easily, or at least hide the dirty ones.
Stupidly enough (on my part), we ended up with the same amount of cabinet space and added counter space. They took out the module, put in the dishwasher, added a top to the exposed shelving, and moved it over to the end of the built-ins.
For all my stubbornness, I ended up with more counter space, the same cabinet space, and a magical box that takes dirty dishes and makes them clean. Definitely not worth the six months I spent hand washing everything.
Uparty, that’s my girl. I’m not sure if it was your Great-Grandpa John or your Pra-Busia who taught us that Polish word.
Glad you have a dishwasher now. Enjoy.
Dad remembers (or it’s his story) that your Pra-Busia started calling him uparty and that is when we learned it meant stubborn. And stubbornly we never forgot it’s meaning.
Uncle Joe wonders how long the stubborn girl had to wait for them to install the dishwasher, after the “go ahead” was activated. Enjoy. Small things always make our lives so much more fun!