Senor's Wiring

 Buenas tardes.

Senor's brain is wired differently. He has a smart button inside there that is always turned on. I know I have one, too, but most of the time I can't find the switch.
While we were on our road trip something happened to our pump. I won't bother you with the undramatic details, but the results ended up being a little more dramatic than I wanted. The pump lingered on after we came back and finally blew up in a little hiss, just quit. It was obvious, even to me.

The whole town is on water rationing and we were out of water anyway, but knew once it came in, that if we did not have a pump to get it to a destination, it would not even matter that the city was giving us water. So, Senor rushed around the little pump house trying to repair the pump and finally after a quick trip to Navajoa for some parts,and a full day of no water, he decided, that we did in fact need to go and buy a new one. He ordered one to be delivered from Navajoa and at the end of day two it still had not come, so he rushed to Navajoa, where he bought one right before the store closed. Still no water incoming from the city, so it was not like we were missing anything. But Senor has a new pump and what do you know, the installation directions are in Portuguese.

Now this is what I am talking about. Does Senor speak Portuguese? Is this a problem for him, i ask.............no, i will figure it out, he says. So his smart button goes into high gear for six pages of unfamiliar words, descriptions and diagrams.

little pump house

old pump

Early on day three, Senor is working on the new pump and a little water comes trickling in from the city. I am elated, over joyed. It is early,and I am already in the middle of three or four very creative, smart projects. I dump them like a hot potato. There is still nothing in the tinnaco and no pressure to get any water up there. But the palms, who have been crying for water now for five days are relieved when I begin dipping the small white bucket down into the eljibe and running water out to them.  While I do this I leave paint drying on a project and the directions clearly told me to wipe it off after five minutes. I leave out some plasticene and it dries hard as a rock, no longer usable. I accidentally leave my oil cutter upside down and all the oil runs out onto my glass cutting board. Exactly where is my smart button switch.

Noon time of day three, Senor, who must by now speak fluent Portuguese, flips the switch and the new pump is running. Suddenly the city sends us water and I ask if there is a connection. Senor is as mystifyed as I am. We fill the tinnaco a little, enough to take care of a few things inside the casa and let the rest rush like a waterfall into the cistern. Fifteen minutes into it the water stops.  

Senor looks at me and says..............well, i am going to go play bridge. He leaves while I am still standing beside the little pump house, looking at the brand new red pump, willing the city to send more water and thinking about all my unfinished, messed up projects.