I don’t know about you, but I got tired of driving my car over and lurching down the giant potholes on the road. I even had one by my drive way. That’s how it all began. Well actually, I was just starting to repair my own asphalt drive way.
I watched a number of Youtube repair videos and found this one hole filler that appealed to me. You simply filled a hole with a couple of shovels full of this oily concoction of pebbles and then you even them out and then pour water on the patch to set it up and harden.
I started on my own with a $50 bucket of ooze. I bought a small garden shovel that was easy to dig into the dense asphalt like filler, I got a heavy tamper to pound the surface level. The tamper got heavier as the day wore on. After a quick trip to the dollar store I had a long handle floor brush. I turned the brush upside down to give me a flat surface to jab at the filler. I filled several different holes and cracks on my driveway and felt let down that I was through. I would look admiringly at my handiwork and then look at the pot hole on the road just a few feet from my driveway. It began to just plain irritate me. Why doesn’t the city do something about these potholes I kept asking my self. Finally, my wife got so tired of me bitching and moaning, my wife said, “Gerry, why don’t you just fix it yourself?” I answered back, “Well, it’s the city’s job . . . and besides there’s probably laws against defacing city property or something.” Maggie just looked at me and said, “So what.”
The “so what” ran through my mind for days . . . I went out to the road and walked innocently around the pothole glancing at the size and depth and my reflection in the pooled water. After working on my own driveway I figured I might just have enough filler to do the job. I waited for a dark and stormy night. I slipped out the back door wearing jeans, a golf jacket, a knit cap, and a scarf that half hid my face and went to the garage. Within minutes I was walking through the shadows carrying my little shovel, an open container of the filler, my cheap tamper, and a plastic bottle of Alpine Spring Water. I stopped by the hedge and looked up and down the street. I took a deep breath and quick marched to the street. I knelt down and emptied all my filler into the hole and ended with a little hill in the middle of the pot hole. I took the wood tamper and began stamping it down. When it looked perfect, I opened my spring water and emptied it all over the now filled pothole. Without waiting to admire my work I gathered all my gear and shadow walked back to the garage. I put my tools away and walked calmly back into the house never letting on that I had done anything.
We had nowhere to go for the next couple of days and then Maggie and I went to the grocery store. When we pulled back into the driveway, Maggie’s head popped around and she said, “Did you see that? The city filled the pothole.” I gave her a surprised look and said, “I never even noticed.”
A couple of days later, my neighbor Mark waved at me. And came across the street. I said, “How’s it going?” Mark replied, “Oh, fine . . . by the way, nice job.” I was crest fallen and went on and on about the pothole and how it bothered me and how I had taken all my precautions and was so careful to not be seen and thought there were no witnesses. Mark said, “Okay . . . I was talking about your drive way. I never even noticed the pothole in front of your house.” We laughed a bit and then Mark said, “I’ve got a bigger pothole . . . actually three in a row I would like fixed.”
Mark and I fixed his potholes. No one complained. The city never came after us. We keep our eyes open during the week looking for potholes in front of houses and on the weekends we take donations and tips when we repair them. All cash . . . no questions . . . and lots of happy customers. We’re just doing our bit for the community.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
Good job. Now about the street lights…if we could do that ourselves!
Leslie,
Thanks for commenting.
Street lights? Are you talking about stop lights or just actual lighting the way lamps? I have issues with both. Are we using solar street lights yet? Stop lights . . . about two months ago I drove back to my north end home from 99th and Pacific. By going 42 MPH down Pacific I made it all the way via the Freeway near 38th to the traffic light on Ruston Way just past the Chinese Reconciliation Park before having to stop. That’s my only claim to fame lately.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Street lights. We walk early mornings year around, so really miss the ones that go out. We’ve reported them on Mylakewood311, and have kept pushing. I guess someone was out today to check one.
Leslie,
Today potholes, tomorrow the street lights. I do think solar is the way to go . . . no running lines. I have an enquiry in about replaceable batteries.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Solar street lights!? Better mood have shaded area or as dirty secret to many solar lights, they require batteries!!
How is that a savings!
Go figure!
Ha! There was a time in the 60’s – 80’s in France when roads and highways went unrepaired. Motorists responded by demanding better cars able to withstand potholes and rough roads. Manufacturers like Peugeot and Citroën responded with suspension systems that absorbed all kinds of rough conditions. I personally owned several Peugeots and they all had smooth rides over washboard and potholed roads, even off road abuse. Makes me wonder why we in America expect glass smooth roads. I’m simply thankful there is something better than mud to drive on.
PRose,
Thanks for commenting. Peugeot and Citroën were good automobiles. I think in olden times 60’s-80’s, cars were heavier . . . longer . . . wider . . . with bodies further from the ground. I love my Volvo, but I stop and pray before driving down the cobblestone roads near St Patrick’s. I’m not looking for glass smooth roads, but I look down many Tacoma roads and I see repairs upon repairs and those repairs are left almost as bad as pot holes. Now, my old four-wheel drive Izuzu it could have handled mud roads and worse.
Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your viewpoint.
Don
So why do we pay a “pothole” fee on every vehicle license renewal in Lakewood.
I like the initiative taken and good way to provide small business, though report your income cuz IRS might read this blog! LoL..
The cities in Pierce County will fine you if you don’t keep sidewalks ( owned by the city) cleared of snow so people can walk and yet the budget for road maintenance, repair is like pulling teeth..
When cities get around to road repair it’s a major upheaval and brand new roads after they dig down protecting power, cable and phone lines, only 5-18 months!
That’s okay as Mr. Biden wants $4 trillion for American infrastructure but we think streets, bridges, and I am guessing he means solar panels, wind turbines, dam removals!!
Stock up on the patch filler!
Scooter,
Thanks for commenting. Actually, the pot hole story is a figment of my imagination and is listed as a Short Story. I do not like pot holes and do not like roads where public works has installed something by digging a hole and then covering it up thereby leaving more bumps that was there before. It all ads up.
The infrastructure program being considered by President Biden would give our transportation industry and much needed boost. All across the U.S. we have bridges, trestles, road, highways, and more that need repair and better upkeep. Without infrastructure repairs and new works how will Amazon deliver products to our people?
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Simone should do something about the potholes on s.cedar between 43rd and 45th..tripped in one years ago and broke my leg.
Check out the potholes on S Cedar( between 43rd and 45th)…broke my leg when I tripped in one.
Mona,
Thanks for commenting.
I’ll go over to South Cedar and take a photo . . . I’ll be very careful . . . I don’t want to trip or break my leg.
Thanks for Sharing.
Don
This is a fictional tale, right? 😉
Jaynie,
Thanks for commenting. The story is fiction, the reality is not. One comment came in about a pothole over by the Chinese Reconciliation Park on Ruston Way . . . I knew exactly where it was and how bad is it. I slammed into the hole there so hard, the car behind me blew his tire. I’ve gotten numerous FB comments about pot holes from all over the county
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Don.
I still like your story, American Ingenuity!
As for the Infrastructure bill, I would like to see it dedicated to current infrastructure upgrades, not the New Green Deal – the roads need work in cities galore! I won’t even drive to Seattle Swedish hospital as the roads are disasters, ruined my tires as potholes were 2 feet deep, and that was the road taken exiting parking!
Green Deal I am aware of as a former East WA resident, who hates how wind power turbines have reduced birds..
Wind power in place as far back as late 70’s reduced pheasant hunting as birds aren’t smart and are hit by the blades as they would fly in straight pattern..
Peace!
Scooter,
It was fun writing the story . . . I hate potholes and checkboard surface repairs.
I’m sure and infrastructure package hasn’t been put together yet, but I know it is sadly, badly needed and the same goes for trade terms.
Thanks for sharing.
Don