Honey Do Handyman

Older retired men

are especially cagey

in executing or ignoring

legendary honey do lists

which appear magically 

overnight in conspicuous 

kitchen spots where they can’t be missed.

But the honey do handyman knows 

he must help out some way.

He also knows well his limitations—

overstepping his skill set will quickly 

put him in a pickle fixing plumbing

or electrical problems that require 

a trip to certain box stores for parts

and still more tools, putting a damper 

on plans for a leisurely day.

The honey do handyman knows well too

tasks are not always subject to weather

an indoor task may replace

an outdoor one when it rains or snows

while a fine day may move a job outdoors.

Thanks to Murphy’s Law, few jobs are “easy”

a 15-minute task can easily

swallow an hour or two—

so much for the dreams of retirement’s 

“easy life” on the couch or playing golf.

When the honey do handyman ignores

a task he deems too problematic

it’s his way of procrastinating,

sooner or later he’ll get to it—

for he has a commitment and values

marital harmony and peace.

© Frederick Fullerton