Day 903 Did you see that?

29th January 2020

Today started off just like any other, a bit of wood cutting and some painting. We then drove to the Habitat for humanity store to look for some cabinet handles and knobs for a dresser we are working on. The place is stacked out with surplus building materials, and, if your life is sad you can rifle through boxes of hinges, knobs and handles to your heart’s content looking for the impossible, matching parts.

I have spent many an hour looking for a pair of cabinet hinges that were the same.

I separated all the different styles, makes and types into piles hoping that I would find two the same.

I get excited when I do, then I have to look for the correct mounting plates.

When I leave, my fingers are sore and dirty, was it worth it? Only if you are suicidal, and need something to take your mind off death.

Kelli found what she needed, so on the way back we stopped off at Goodwill. We wanted to check if they had reduced the price of a dresser they had on display. It was marked at $65 with is very expensive, and way above what we are prepared to pay. Kelli tried to get a deal with the help of her “insider” but to no avail, there were too many managers about.

It was still there at the same price, but we did find another dresser that we grabbed and loaded into the truck.

Next stop was Menards to get a length of timber I needed to finish the tops for the pedestals.

As we were driving back, chatting as we do, Kelli suddenly turned the steering wheel hard, causing my head to slam against the headrest. I recognised this driving manoeuvre, she had seen something by the side of the road, and like a dog chasing a bone she was determined to take another look. The drive back was rapid, the skin on my face distorted, as the truck accelerated to overtake a jet fighter.

The traffic lights were red, so she had to hit the brakes hard. As my internal organs shot forward, we could see another car had stopped and the lady driver had got out to look at the two pieces of furniture by the roadside. The lights were still red, they were taking ages, I could sense the mist in Kelli’s eyes, she was willing the lady to leave, which she did, as our truck screeched to a halt.

We decided to take the dresser and carried it to the road. We had to rearrange the one we had got at Goodwill, but we managed to get other dresser in as well.

We then drove home to unload. Kelli kept saying that she wanted the other piece, which was a sideboard, as well.

After a quick unloading we tore off back to pick up the other piece.

Would it still be there? always a risk with free things at the side of the road. Who would dare take it?

Kelli’s heart was beating, I could hear it, she plotted the fastest route, and we sped towards the same traffic lights, they were green.

“Stay green” she uttered, and they did. Now was the sideboard still there? it was,

hallelujah!

This was a heavy beast, it was six foot long, the adrenaline kicked in as we lifted it towards the truck. I’m not sure how we managed it, but I’m sure we will feel it in the morning, but we had a good stock pile of product to work on.

I spent a bit of time rearranging the garage so that we could store everything and still have space to work.

I like these ordinary days when nothing really happens, but there is nothing ordinary when Kelli spots a Freebie, other motorists look out.