Is that poo on my arm?

I am writing this from the front porch of the cottage on Shortts Lake, Nova Scotia. This pretty little spot has been in my family since 1974. It is now owned by my brother, Doug. His intention in taking ownership a few years ago was to keep the cottage in the family so it can be enjoyed by all of us and for upcoming generations. I am grateful beyond measure for his generosity in sharing resources so that we may all benefit by this amazing little place. The cottage is old and dare I say charmingly shabby. It has undergone many improvements over the last 5 years but it remains subject to the impressive power of Mother Nature. Like most of the the East Coast, it has rained buckets in Nova Scotia for the past month and this past Friday was EPIC. We had a massive thunderstorm and crazy heavy rain.  We went to bed with an intact driveway, a functioning septic system and a dock that was 18 inches above the water. We woke up to a washed out driveway, the dock completely underwater and the septic tank was detached from the outflow pipe from the toilet. The septic tank was floating in a newly created pond. Holy hot mess of epic proportions. I am proud to say of the three of us; I was the calm collected one.

We sent Dad to Halifax and Doug and I put on our newly purchased rubber boots, gathered tools and after a first this then that discussion, we started with the poo project.  It was hard work and it was disgusting because it involved human waste that was in places it does not belong. Closer inspection showed us that water had collected underneath the tank causing it to float because the outflow area was clogged with years of unmanaged ground growth. Shovels, pick axe, muscle and a whole lot of sweat allowed water from under the tank to flow out. With some heavy digging the floating tank was able to sink down. Next was the toilet outflow. The good news is that I was able to smell poo. Good, because I haven’t smelled much in three months since having COVID 19, but bad, because Doug pointed out what I had missed. The once clogged because of wrong angle outflow pipe was now flowing poo. I noticed brown on my arm and asked Doug “ Is that poo on my arm?”. I am not sure if it’s because he was jet lagged and tired but Doug’s next moves was to come over, sniff my arm and say“ I don’t know” and then burst out laughing- the tears rolling down your face can’t catch your breath kind of laughing. This laughter brought us from the place of “ this is the grossest task ever “ to OMG there is no one else I would want to be fixing a poo tank with than you”.  Have you ever had the thought that I am exactly where I am supposed to be with the person I am supposed to be with?

We have the great privilege of sharing the good and the not so good of life’s journey with those we love. Sometimes the craziest of situations can lead to a fantastic memory. I know that for years to come we will laugh about my anxious question – “ is there poo on me” ? and Doug’s response of sniffing my arm. Human connection and memory making can start with an EPIC mess. Epic messes that require joint effort to resolve bring out the best in us. Maybe if we remember to look for it we might find the profound gift of gratitude and laughter amidst the poo.

Hopefully, you never have the opportunity to need to fix a 45 year old closed septic system but if you do, call me. I am now an expert.

Peace

K