[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/6″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Yesterday afternoon, I heard the front door open as Lana’s little feet came slowly through the kitchen area of our fifth wheel.
“Dad!” she yelled. “Mom needs you!”
I quickly made for the door, threw it open, and rushed to the back of our truck. There I saw Gwen, a slight frown on her face, with one of our tool boxes in front of her, missing its lid.
“I need your help,” she iterated. I nodded, and then looked back towards the front door. There, sitting on our picnic table, was the contents of the toolbox. Even though I was 20 feet away, it was readily apparent that the majority of the contents were sopping wet.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/6″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]I shook my head and then helped Gwen unload the toolbox from the truck bed. As I grabbed the toolbox, I glanced inside.
It had four inches of water, and then everything started to make sense. Somehow, our toolbox had sprung a leak. Unfortunately, that particular toolbox contained several power tools, a power chord, ropes, jumper cables, and a couple of other random things.
Walking across the dirt road to dump the water, I scanned the lidless box for potential holes. I couldn’t find any, which didn’t surprise me. I assumed the lid wasn’t secured properly, and when I came back to the truck, Gwen told me the same thing.
I shouldn’t have been too surprised by the minor flooding. Over the past two weeks, we’ve been hit with some serious rain. First, it was Lake Minden, just north of Sacramento. The storm was so strong our fifth wheel rocked back and forth for much of the night as 45 miles per hour gust slammed into it. And that wasn’t the worst part. The rain was coming down so hard our master bedroom started leaking. The only way that would happen is if the rain was moving sideways.
The other two storms that hit us weren’t as bad as the first, but they dumped gallons of water on us every minute or so.
There were plenty of opportunities for water to fill that toolbox. There was just one issue: we have three toolboxes, and only one of them had any water on the inside.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”small_modern” color=”Extra-Color-2″ quote=”Somehow, our toolbox had sprung a leak. Unfortunately, that particular toolbox contained several power tools, a power chord, ropes, jumper cables, and a couple of other random things.”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”small_modern” color=”Extra-Color-2″ quote=”Sure enough, there was a crack nestled in one of the many corners on the lid. It ran along a seam and was nearly impossible to see with just a passing glance. “][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]After the toolbox was dry, and after I’d used the blow dryer to dry up everything that needed a towel, we reloaded the box and replaced the lid. As we replaced the lid and began the descent from the truck bed, Gwen shouted again. “It’s cracked!”
I hopped back up and looked at the lid. Sure enough, there was a crack nestled in one of the many corners on the lid. It ran along a seam and was nearly impossible to see with just a passing glance. Unfortunately, the crack was also in a spot that gathered a small amount of water. So, whenever it filled, it would slowly seep into the toolbox.
We quickly solved the problem, but the damage from the small crack had been done. I had to throw away a power drill (it needed to go anyway), and now my power chord is covered in black mold.
Then I started thinking. It was so easy for that water to get in, unnoticed, and do serious damage. And the worst part was, I had no clue until we got in there and started cleaning things out.
Then things got really deep, and I internalized that question. Do I have any cracks in my life? Is there some kind of food I eat too much? Do I sit in a way that will harm me later? Is there some kind of media I’m indulging in that could end up doing long term damage?
And you know what, I have no clue. In passing, everything looks great. But I’ll tell you one thing: I’m going to keep looking, and you should too.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]