It all began about 48 years ago when I was a beginning graduate student.

My assistantship called for me to work solving the problems of machines in a speech science lab. I must have learned my lessons there, because for my next graduate degree I was back in a lab with — you guessed it — more machines — and more problems to solve. The good news was twofold: First, I was able to switch to a people-oriented program after about a year and a half. Second, I learned the lessons that prepared me to be a “fixer” throughout my life. For example, when a problem occurred with the dryer, I was inside the dryer, in back of it, and all over it until I not only diagnosed the problem, but also found a solution — “gimmicky” as it may have been.

Sure, there were many times when an expert had to be called in. But before doing that I had to give it a real good try. My old prof taught me that the “perversity of inanimate objects” is such that they will put up a “big front.” But if we realize they are only machines, we can carefully try to “psych them out.”

Where am I going with this? This past week I faced a new problem with a continuously low chlorine level in my saltwater pool. I relied on the advice of the manager at the pool supply store who told me to continue adding Fresh ‘N Clear, an oxidizer, to reduce to zero the amount of combined chlorine (which there was) in my pool. The manager said it was necessary to wait several hours for the oxidation to take place. But it wasn’t happening. I suspected my year-old saltwater generator, but after cleaning it out and getting the same results, I felt stymied.

Switch to this afternoon. My sister was telling me about a doctor who told her to continue taking Fosamax, even as it tore at her esophagus. He said things would get better. Finally, a specialist told her to immediately stop the Fosamax. In time, my sister was “healed.” FLASH. The doctor said — The manager said. I found myself in the pool store purchasing a stronger oxidizing agent containing chlorine.

The upshot seems to be at least threefold: One, hang in there because a solution is just days away. Two, listen to what others have to say about their experiences because there are common threads all over the place. And three, what may appear to be wise counsel, may be less wise than you think. So give that counsel a try. If it doesn’t seem to help, give yourself permission to use your own counsel, and do seek the counsel of others. Did I tell you about that strange and persistent leak in the same place in my pool’s cartridge filter housing? Any ideas out there?

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com