Resisting for Fourteen Years

Architecture and design have always been my passion.  When moving into this property, the arches, the stone walls and the architecturally unscathed cantera stairs delighted my senses.

Resisting for fourteen years to have handrails, banisters, or anything to detract from the stairs WAS my goal.

Then a couple of months ago after falling really hard, something connected.  It was an unexpected, quick and severe fall.  Maybe it knocked some sense into my head! 

Shortly thereafter, I began to think about what if that had happened at the top of the stairs and I had fallen over the edge and fallen three stories down.  I truly had never been concerned before this. 

As one enters from the roof terrace there is a really deep step. My concern had always been for others because I knew how to hold onto the open door and frame,  But, would they?  It was disconcerting to others.  They expressed concern about me.  I pooh poohed it, always.

Then with this fall, for some reason, I became tentative as I came off the roof terrace.  Sheesh, what a wimp.  But then I thought, you could be a DEAD wimp!  Or worse, an injured, severely wimp........

So, finally I said something, after fourteen years to the owners when they came to put in the new water tank.
Last week they put in handrails from the first floor to the ground floor where my bedroom, dressing area and bathroom are located.  Hmmmm, I realized that holding that handrail going up helped my "still sore" injured knee.

Today, they came to install the banisters and handrails.  By this time I didn't even care if they were pretty.  Once I realized the danger, I just wanted something, anything, any color and sturdy.

Voila!  That's exactly what I got.  It ain't pretty.  It ain't a pretty design.  It ain't even colorful.

BUT it sure as heck is sturdy!

It was fascinating to watch them bring in the two pieces, measure again, reweld, secure, and touch up paint .  

One of the funniest things was when I heard the vacuum going.  I knew that the landlord, Carlos, knew I had a vacuum in the bodega.  I quickly grabbed my camera to get a photo of him vacuuming up the concrete dust from installing the railings.

I came rolling around the corner of the stairs, snapped the photo and told him I was sending it to his wife, Maria.  Love the smile on his face!  A Mexican man vacuuming.  NOW I've seen everything.  AND, he knew it!

NOW I'll really be able to zip up and down the stairs. No more snail's pace for me.  Well, maybe until the knee is completely healed.  It's been eight weeks........and counting.  

I think the beach will heal all wounds, soon.