Today I thought of my old copy editor, the late, great Dan "Sully" Sullivan, because whenever we toldl him about an amazing coincidence, he would answer, "Perhaps its providential, and not coincidental."

One of those events occurred this morning.

Our Glenview IL Widows Group was scheduled to hear a talk by Al Victor, the Mr. Fix It Handyman with golden hands. He was going to bring some faucets, light bulbs, and other household items, to teach us to make simple  home repairs.

He phoned just before the meeting started to say he wrenched his back and was on his way to the doctor' for a cortisone shot. 

I felt sorry my handynman was injured, but  I also was distressed because I had to disappoint a roomfull of women sitting in the Senior Center, who were full of questions and eager to learn home repair secrets.

I no sooner hung up the phone than a pleasant, burly guy swung through the door. "What's going on in here?" he asked. I mumbled apologetically about having lost our home repair expert who was supposed to give a talk and he said, "I'm a licensed electrician. Maybe I can help."

And Jerry Kalman, owner of A-ABACE Electric in Glenview , 847-401-8800. sat down, leaned forward,  and began to take questions. The women gave Jerry five stars--as he gave them such tips as:

• Always turn your hair dryer on low, not high, or you may blow a fuse.
• The reason you can't put more than one appliance in your old-fashioned kitchen is that those have only one-appliance cables.You can upgrade those at a cost.
• Use CFLS (floourescent) bulbs in your closets because the old fashioned ones easily start fires if they are left on, get hot, and touch a pillow or blanket on the shelf. (And how many of us leave the closet door open as a night light for ourselves or grandchildren?)
• Get busy with the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner and clean out the filter on your dryer. That's the cause of too many house fires.

So do you think Jerry's sudden appearance was coincidental--or providential? I side with Sully on this one.

See Widows Lists: Home Repairs