April '10 Home & Family—Susie Isaacs Column

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Hermie, the Hero

Herminia ''Hermie'' Sniffen

A
s reported [on my blog], Sassy dropped her phone in the toilet after too many jello shots at her birthday party. It cost her $100 to replace it. A few days later, she was taking her trash out while chatting with Suzie McBaine on her new phone. She needed both hands to heft the trash up and over the bin. She laid the phone on top of one of the high poles that surround the trash bin, thinking that it was solid.

Guess what? It was hollow. Down her phone went. All Suzie heard was, “Oh sh*t, Suzie, Suzie, sh*t, sh*t!!” Suzie later reported that it sounded like she was falling down a well, which in a sense, she was. Many delivery men and neighbors tried to help Sassy retrieve the phone, but to no avail. They tried chewing gum, a picker upper (too short) and a few other unsuccessful remedies. Our handyman extraordinaire, Dereck, suggested a long pole with a wad of duct tape, sticky side out. That idea did grab the phone, but it wouldn’t hold it.

The Claw

Enter our friend Herminia Sniffen, known to all as Hermie. She thought on this dilemma, slept on it, and reported that she awoke at 6 a.m. with the answer. She was at Lowes when they opened. She was looking for a “plumber’s claw.” This is a tiny claw type device that can grab things. She remembered that her father had one and was surprised, but delighted that the girl at Lowes knew exactly what she was talking about. However, it was too short. Hermie bought it anyway, and attached another pole to it with duct tape, with the end of the attached pole positioned so that it could control the “claw.”

Rescued

Sassy had a large step stool and a flashlight. Hermie lowered the rigged claw to the bottom of the 7-foot post, closed the claw and slowly brought it up. There it was! Grasping Sassy’s phone! Sassy was so excited and thrilled that everyone in the apartment knew what had happened (and for miles around.) Hermie later admitted that she was just as surprised as Sassy when she saw that she had actually grabbed the phone and fished it out!

Suzie McBaine, upon hearing the story, said, “Hermie is not just a genius and a good friend, she is an angel. Who else would have gotten up so early, gone to Lowes, rigged this thing and driven across town to try and help Sassy save another $100!”

Footnote: Hermie went back to Lowe’s to show the nice gal who had waited on her the contraption that worked and to thank her. The girl asked what her name was. “Hermie,” she replied. The young woman was absolutely amazed. You see, her last name is Herman and everyone calls her Hermie! How many Hermie’s do you know, especially female Hermies? Somehow, this “coincidence” makes this story even more special.

Not only is she a hero, she also is a poker champion! The first Poker Gives online Charity tournament was held on Easter Sunday and Hermie won it!