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Kennedy: The strangely satisfying art of removing popcorn ceilings

Use a scraper, such as as stiff putty knife to remove the popcorn texture from the ceiling. / File Photo
Use a scraper, such as as stiff putty knife to remove the popcorn texture from the ceiling. / File Photo Use a scraper, such as as stiff putty knife to remove the popcorn texture from the ceiling. / File Photo

By Mark Kennedy 4 min read

I recently interviewed a Chattanooga doctor who said one of his childhood pleasures was taking apart toys and then putting them back together.

Now, he repairs humans. It’s called surgery, and I hear it pays well.

I realize there are happy endings to boyhood impulses. I try to remind myself of this when our 17-year-old and 12-year-old sons ask permission to demolish things.

Just in the past 10 days I have said both “yes” and “no” to the 12-year-old, who launches nonstop assaults on my sense of order.

One night he texted me while I was shopping at Walmart and asked if I would pick up a popcorn-ceiling scraper.