A few days ago, my nephew asked me to help find an electrical problem at his aunt's house where he lives.
This is my sister's son, and the aunt is his father's sister.
Sadly, my nephew's father committed suicide on Christmas Eve many years ago, at the age of twenty four. He was my friend as well as my sister's ex-lover and my nephew's father. He is missed by all of us.
I agreed to help, being experienced with household electrical systems, and was working on the problem yesterday.
As with many older homes, it is very difficult to know how the electricians that built the system originally routed the circuitry. I spent a few hours trying to infer the layout of the failed circuit, and discovered and fixed a secondary - and dangerous - problem in the dead circuit. I was not able to find the source of the break in the circuit, however.
Finally, I asked the spirit of my deceased friend for help, for his son and sister's sake. I had just opened an outlet box that still had power. Clearly in my head I heard "Right here, look just a little deeper."
I discovered a burned and melted wire connection in that box, and the receptacled itself was dangerously corroded and disintegrating.
I cleaned everything and replaced the receptacle, and everything was working.
This is my thank-you to Mike, my favorite swamp beatle. I know you helped me protect your son and sister. We are grateful, and you are still in our hearts.
Dan
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