I asked my dad to research locks for our new home in preparation for my parent’s visit. He did his homework before mom and dad came on Saturday night, and picked a Grade 3 brand of locks from one of the big home improvement stores. On Monday, several contractors showed up to work on our home. Throughout the day I would pass by the first unit kitchen and hear:

Tap, Tap

pause, think

Tap, Tap

pause, think

Some background info: My dad used to be on a trading desk at a big financial firm. Trading money market instruments, that is (think of how raucous the desk must have been). They spent a good chunk of time insulting each other, for example, they say of my father, “He has only two speeds. Slow and stop.” One of his nicknames: Slow Li. Now, lest you get the wrong idea, my dad is a very smart man, but he is not known for his quick physical movement. In the Chinese zodiac, he is an Ox, slow and steady - and don’t try to rush him or he’ll let you have it. My mother, on the other hand, born in the year of the Rabbit, is energetic and moves at a good clip.

At the end of the day, he installed three deadbolts. “It’s a good thing you don’t do this for a living,” my mother observed, “You wouldn’t be able to feed your family.” That’s my dad, Slow-Li. Eventually, all the locks were changed (with the exception of our basement door) by Thursday morning, when they left. Thank you! That’s one project checked off.