My House Was Flooding. My Plumber Offered to Put Me Up in a Hotel.

The pump on my roof spent the night making a noise that suggested it was attempting to leave Mérida. Very little sleep. Then it gave up, and water started pouring out of the rooftop tank.

Somehow, I had water everywhere except where I wanted it.

No pressure. No hot water.

Then two plumbers arrived. One Mexican. One Venezuelan.

They started at 3 in the afternoon. At 1 in the morning, they were still there.

The lead plumber kept apologizing. I was watching this man work late into the night on my roof, and he was worried about me.

Then he offered to pay for a hotel room so I could get some sleep while they carried on.

I’m still trying to get my head around that.

At 8 this morning, they were back.

There’s now a new pump, a new connection to the well in my front yard, hot water, proper pressure, and absolutely nothing pouring off the roof.

I’ve turned on the tap several times just to admire it. This is apparently who I am now.

But what will stay with me is that offer of a hotel room. He’d seen how exhausted I was and wanted me to be comfortable, even while he was still working.

Two men who took my problem personally and stayed with it until it was solved.

To both of you: gracias de corazón. Por el trabajo, por el desvelo y por preocuparse tanto por mí.

The water pressure is wonderful. The humanity is what I’ll remember.