I know one thing for sure — my life is never dull. Today was one of those days when I may have welcomed a little less excitement!

Mike and I have been toying with the idea of moving from the country into town for a while. Our big house and acreage take up a lot of time when we could be playing, and we both like to play.

After directing a yard project at our house I ran into town to meet a home inspector. The house we are considering purchasing needs a little love, but it in a nice quiet neighborhood close to everything we need. I followed the inspector, Charles, around like Sherlock Holmes asking questions and peering into every nook and cranny.

Brown sediment settled into the bottom of the tub as I filled it. I figured I could help Charles by filling up all the tubs and sinks for him. After I called him in to see my discovery and take a picture of it I continued on my tasks as unpaid assistant inspector. He didn’t seem to mind, and we found plenty to chat about as we both checked the house out.

I filled the tub up a couple more times. Each time less sediment escaped from the pipes leaving me a little less concerned about the problem.

Charles said, “The old pipes are going to need replacing eventually, but I think you can get by with them for a few more years.”

“I’m really glad to hear that. There is a lot of remodeling I want to do if we get the house. At least we can wait a little while on this particular part of the renovation,” I answered.

By this time we were chatting about our families and other smalltalk. I could tell Charles was very knowledgeable and felt fortunate to have his input. I tagged along behind him as he checked out some things in other parts of the house asking questions as we went. In a few minutes I thought about the tub in the master bathroom and went back to check on it.

My stomach lurched when I walked into the bedroom. I could hear a waterfall in the adjoining bath. My feet sloshed over the mess as I rushed in to drain the overflowing tub! Water had found it’s way over the walls of the tub, across the bathroom floor and halfway across the white carpeted room! Quickly I turned off the water and drained the tub. The overflow was not working, but obviously I shouldn’t have left it.

After a quick call to the realty office we got a carpet cleaner in. Charles graciously told the worker, “We let the tub run over and made a little mess.”

To which I replied, “Well that’s kind of you, but I am the one who let the tub run over. You didn’t have anything to do with it.”

It was nice of him to be chivalrous. Charles was a true southern gentleman and tried to save me embarrassment.

Thank God the mess was cleaned up in a matter of minutes. I paid the fee and had to chuckle thinking this would make a good comedy show or maybe a column.

Jan Penton Miller can be reached at lilsisjan@yahoo.com.