It's becoming real

By the time you read this most of the construction projects that I’m going to describe will be finished and other aspects or our Building Project will have begun. Nonetheless, I simply have to tell you about what’s going on right now. It’s amazing! We are actually realizing what were only dreams and plans. I know this may sound ridiculous but, I can’t go to the bathroom here without grinning from ear to ear as I look at the wonderful tiles and stainless steel and fancy porcelain. Construction is a very satisfying endeavor. You dream up a beautiful new reality and in a short time, BINGO, there it is. I only wish World Peace, Health Care for All and Fair Labor Practices were as easily realized. But, that’s another discussion.

Parish Hall is getting its new coat of paint today. The crew of Pacific Painting Company ascended the scaffolding this morning and began applying Damariscotta Blue (a pale sky blue) to the acoustical ceiling coffers and Lincolnshire Olive (a medium toned olive-brown) to the boxed beams. I’ve been pretty nervous about how this would look over a large area. I shouldn’t have been. It looks fabulous! The walls are two-toned; Linen Sand (a light yellow-tan) above and Bronzed Beige (a deeper bronze-tan) below. With the application of these new colors the large stained-glass window at the end of the hall has suddenly come to life. I can’t wait to see the new library cabinets and the re-finished hardwood in this space.

While all of this designer work is being done inside, a huge concrete pour is under way outside. I’ve never seen such a big concrete pumping device. It sits in the middle of the Jefferson courtyard area with four giant outriggers to keep it steady. This device pumps concrete from a truck on Santa Barbara St almost all the way to the Starr King Playground area where the new terrace walls are being poured. This requires a boom that reaches as high as the top of our tower. It also requires about a dozen strong men directing the concrete into the forms and tamping it tight. It’s all quite impressive. On Monday the forms will be removed and we will get our first glimpse of what our new courtyard will really look like.

So after two years of planning and several months of extensive and invisible infrastructure improvements, our dream is actually becoming real. We can begin to see the finished product, and it’s spectacular!