Invention 1

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”  And a demanding mother, she is.

The Magic Wand

The Necessity: the ability to open/close the ceiling vent in the RV living area.  It’s 8’ above the floor.  One could climb up on the counter, of course, but inevitably there would be a fall that resulted in breaking numerous bones, spending a month in traction, 6 months more as a semi-invalid, your muscles slowly atrophying into mush.  A better alternative is preferred, a long handled thingy that will reach, securely grab, and turn the knob while the operator has both feet safely planted on the floor.

The invention, step by step:

1. Measure the knurled vent knob: 1 ¾” 
2. Go to hardware store and wander around, measuring 2-pronged objects that appear close to the correct size.  Settle for a heavy duty screw-in type tool hanger with a spread that’s ¼” too small, “I can bend that sucker, I think, expand the gap so it fits.”
3. Take sucker home and expand the gap with a wrecking bar.
4. Grab an old broom handle and whack it off at 3’.
5. Drill hole in center of whacked end.
6. Screw sucker into hole.  The Magic Wand is born unto the world!
7. Test drive.  Voila!  Works like a charm!

Ye Olde Magic Wand

It’s not as cute as Tinkerbell’s, not as powerful as the Hogwarts students’, and not as versatile as either one.  But, mine’s bigger!  More important, it’s every bit as effective in accomplishing its assigned task.

PS: Know who first said it, the mother thing?  Would you believe Plato?  Yep.  It’s from his book, The Republic, not in those exact words but close enough.