AND another lesson in how to do it like a woman...accepting help.

Having the problem of the furnace fan diagnosed, I started the day by pulling the fan unit out of the furnace, removing the belt and taking off the bearing housing. Now all I needed to do was get the bearing off the shaft. There was no way I could do this. It was seized, frozen, stuck, tighter than a tick. I mustered all my puny strength and tools but to no avail. As I sat looking at it, trying to come up with a smarter solution, the phone rang. My neighbor, James, had heard of my challenge and, as he was going to be out my way, offered to stop by to help.

He's a wheat farmer and as a farmer has to keep huge heavy equipment in running condition. He's not only smart but big and strong. Sometimes doing it like a woman means accepting help when it's offered. In this case, his assistance was just what I needed.

His truck is loaded with an array of implements and within minutes he had the bearing off the shaft. With an incredible wealth of knowledge about bearings and all things mechanical, he offered up all sorts of information as his hands deftly cleaned and reworked the bearing parts. Before long he had it back together and on the shaft. The fan turned like a dream and he was off to his next project. I suddenly had a huge sense of gratitude.

I too was off to town for the new belt and parts to replace a broken vibration dampener.

After installing the belt and muscling the unit back into the furnace I held my breath as I turned on the power. The big fan whirled into action pumping warm air throughout the house. I was saved! Thank you James.