Skills

Hello,

When in MN Leroy and I went to a sporting goods store to look at their camping pads. We have some semi blow up pads that we have liked for more than 30 years. Brian had a blow up kind that was light weight and all air fill giving more support. We looked for some like that, but found something better, a pad that could be pumped with a palm push. The friendly helper in the store inflated it in about three minutes with just his hand pumping rapidly. It looked ideal. Because of a coupon for this or that and some other mysterious complicated money gyrations, Leroy ordered it when we came home. They arrived promptly, but we did not get them out until today because Leroy has much of the day off. Pulling them out of their handy carrying bag required just an easy pull. Leroy was impressed with the compression strap that held it in place. He then flapped it out and set about pumping it with no result. “Perhaps we need to read the directions,” I suggested.

“Are there directions?” Leroy wanted to know, “It looks so simple.”

There were directions that did not add much to our knowledge. “Can I try?” I asked.

“Have at it,” Leroy said disgustedly.

I started pumping without much visible result. After a little hand moving experimenting, I was able to start filling the bag. Leroy grumbled as he got out the second pad and started trying once more. In the end I think it took me about ten minutes and Leroy more like 15 to 20 even after I shared all my acquired knowledge. The only bad thing is it looks like I have a job every time we want to use these pads. Sometimes it does not pay to be skilled. How that young, in the know, guy did that trick in three minutes is beyond both of us.

Paula