“I gave you everything—even my life!”
Those words still echo in my mind. My father was a true Renaissance man; he could do it all, and I have the receipts to prove it! His childhood was built on an instinctual need to understand the world. He spent his early years pulling things apart, from radios to engines, just to see the “why” behind the “how.”
When he moved from Haiti to New York, the boiler that heated our home fell into disrepair. Rather than just paying the bill, he stood over the repairman, watching every move and asking question after question. Eventually, he became the “go-to guy.” Whether it was plumbing or electrical work, he was the man to call. It made sense—he was a civil engineer, trained in the complex construction of bridges, tunnels, and homes.
The Silent Apprentice
Despite his brilliance, he was old-fashioned. In his mind, it wasn’t a “girl’s place” to know the inner workings of a house.
But I was paying attention. I grew up in his shadow—the silent apprentice. I was the one who handed him the wrenches, the one who ran to the store for supplies, and the one who watched. While he didn’t give me a formal education in trade work, his stories taught me a singular philosophy: You can do anything you put your mind to.
Proving the Philosophy
I often wonder if I would have had the guts to buy my Cape Coral property if he hadn’t been around. Probably not. But when I finally had a home of my own, I reached back into those memories. I remembered what I had seen, and I filled in the gaps by reading the instructions.
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he realized I could install lights and outlets. He watched with visible pride as I:
- Cut and laid laminated flooring.
- Handled a handsaw to cut posts for an outdoor deck.
- Diagnosed and fixed broken sprinkler systems.
- Wired new fixtures with precision.
“I Am My Father’s Daughter”
The ultimate test came when I tried to run a cable from one side of a room to the other. The wall studs blocked me at every turn. Frustrated and exhausted, I was on the verge of giving up. Then, I caught my reflection and thought, “I am my father’s daughter. I am not letting a wall beat me.”
I stayed up all night engineering a solution. I was at Home Depot at 7:00 AM the next morning buying a chisel. By the afternoon, the job was done. He gave me a philosophy to live by, I built my life on it, and it has given me everything!
The Power of Not Backing Down
In today’s world, a ten-minute repair can easily cost you an arm and a leg. But here’s the secret: most of these jobs aren’t nearly as complicated as the pros want you to believe. It takes a little practice and some time, but if you start with what you’re comfortable with and just try, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can achieve. I’ll never forget when the main water supply pipe to my house burst. I called a plumber, and after a quick look, he hit me with a $1,000 quote. I didn’t even flinch. I looked him dead in the eye and said, “I’d rather pee in a bucket.”
I told the plumber I just didn’t have time to do the job myself.
I turned toward the house and yelled to my husband, “Go buy me some copper pipe, a coupling and a SharkBite!” I grabbed a torch, brillo pad (no soap) and pipe cutter out of the tool cabinet- I have a pretty impressive toolbox.
Now, truth be told, I had no intention of doing that specific job myself. I was going to call “Daniel my Brother” to do it. I wasn’t even 100% certain about the repair I was describing- but I was 100% certain that I wasn’t about to let him hustle me, either. The moment he realized I knew exactly what a SharkBite was—and that I wasn’t afraid of a little fire—his entire demeanor changed. Suddenly, that “$1,000 job” miraculously dropped to $200.
The Lesson: Knowledge isn’t just about fixing things; it’s about protection. Whether you end up doing the work yourself or hiring it out, knowing the language of the trade ensures you’re treated with respect. Don’t be afraid to pick up a tool or read a manual. You might just save yourself a fortune.