Assembly required...twice

Scene: Hal and I are putting together the Bowflex Monday night.

Instructions in hand, we attempt to put the first two pieces together.

Jenn: It says to make sure the felanges are around the bushings. Do you know what that means? Are these the bushings?

I point to something that is definitely not a bushing, judging by the look on Hal’s face.

Hal: Nope, the bushing is something that you insert into the hole so that when you put the bolt through it, it keeps it tight and the bolt rotates but doesn’t rattle around as it’s moving.

Makes sense, and I’m learning new things.

Jenn: So where are the bushings that they’re talking about here?

Hal: I don’t know…

And with that, we continued to attach the base to the main structure of the machine.

To Hal’s credit, he managed to put together 90% of the rest of the Bowflex solo as I slept on the couch, providing moral support (I swear).


Next day…the Bowflex is now near completion.

Hal: I’m going to need your help with something on the Bowflex.

Jenn: Okay.

Hal: We need to put the bushings into the holes of the base.

Jenn: Wait, didn’t I mention the bushings yesterday? Haven’t we had a conversation just like this?

Hal looking defeated and a little frustrated.

Hal: Yes, you’re right and I’m completely wrong.

A bit dramatic but we’ll let it slide for the sake of getting this finished already.

Jenn: What do we need to do?

By which I mean, what will be required of me?

Hal: Take the bolts out, insert the bushings then put the bolts back in.

Sounds simple but it came down to completely undoing everything that had been done yesterday with the base. It was kind of ironic that that one of the final steps to assembling the Bowflex involved the first piece we put together. But it got done, and we both looked a bit triumphant since this task was none to easy.

Hal: See, now you can tell people you put together a Bowflex.

Yes, I’ll add it to my resume right next to, can take a shower in under three minutes. Instead of rolling my eyes, I put on my big girl panties and just smiled.

Hal: Next time, I’ll listen to you. And then we won’t have to go through all this.

Aw, I didn’t even have to say I told you so…wait, next time?