the nail is up

It isn't a nail, it's a spike. A big rusty nail-like spike. It was pounded into the patio many years ago as it connected to a piece of tough vinyl that was an anchor for a screen porch. Val and Roy Engstrom lived here for 49 years before we did, and they loved their screen porch tent thing that they set up on the patio every summer. We've heard stories of excellent drinks and scandinavian jokes and great steaks and hot nights and so much to laugh about. All of this in the screen porch tent thing.

There is one spike left and every spring it pops up out of one of the pavers. It pushes it's way up from the mud underneath the patio as if it were a fern or hosta or daisy - waking up, pushing up, time to get up.

The first year I saw it in it's popped up position I panicked. That spike was flush with the stone a day or so ago, and now look at, we are sinking! Oh my god the basement will be filled with mud in no time.

The real reason the spike was above ground was explained to me but I can't explain it to you. Something about frost and cold and warmth and expansion but anyway.

It's just so me to jump to conclusions in the worst possible way. If someeone doesn't email me back they must hate me or be mad. If someone doesn't answer their cell phone when I call I wonder how bad the accident was and what hospital I should go to. The reason I get headaches is because of a tumor, it's just bound to be the truth.

In this case, nope, the house isn't sinking, not at all. The spike is up and it's telling funny stories, promising spring will be here soon, and it was a waste of time to worry about it.

so spring is coming and the patio is not sinking.

I think.