HOW WE LOSE THINGS
Cindy Maddera
I dumped all of my things for the day into my milk crate that I have strapped to the rack on my scooter and zipped home. It was Friday, I had worked a full day and was mentally exhausted. Troubleshooting microscope problems that a user is having on a microscope while maintaining social distances is challenging. I was ready for wine and pizza, but when I parked in the driveway and started unloading the crate, I realized my sweater was missing, one of my favorite sweaters from Anthropologie. So…not cheap. I thought about it for a few minutes and sent a text to Michael. He had left to pick up our pizza. I turned the scooter around and set off to retrace my route home. As I scanned the road and sidewalks, I had a vision of my sweater laying in the middle of the road with tire tracks and tears. I had doubts I would even find it, but suddenly there it was, laying in the middle of Rockhill Street. I pulled the scooter over and ran out into the street to rescue my sweater. I picked it up, gave it a quick look over and shoved it into my scooter seat. When I got home, Michael greeted me at the garage door with “Did you find it?” and I excitedly pulled the unscathed sweater from my scooter seat with a “Huzzah!”
There was a lesson to be learned here that I did not pay attention to.
The next morning, Michael and I went in search of a new dining room table. We started with the antique shops in the West Bottoms, but after rummaging around four floors of two (not air-conditioned) buildings and navigating around people not wearing masks or incorrectly wearing masks, we gave up. I suggested we head over to another store in Westport, one with air conditioning and snacks. We walked into the store and found the perfect table, a new desk chair for me that will double as extra seating at the table and a new stool for Michael to use at his work bench. Plus snacks! We were done. All that was left was to find lunch and make a quick Whole Foods stop. Michael loaded the truck while I paid the bill and then we made our way to a sushi place with great lunch specials. As Michael turned a corner, I heard a noise. I looked back and opened my mouth just as Michael started saying “nonononono'“. He pulled the truck over and we ran out into the street to retrieve our perfect table that was now in pieces.
I am sure my skin changed color as I sat silently in the truck. I was sick with fury. Michael made a plea for me to not be angry with him and declared that he was taking it back to the store. There was no way that store was going to give us a refund and I was angry with myself for not checking that the table was secure in the back of the truck. Did I not just almost lose a very expensive sweater because I failed to make sure that it was secure in my crate? Michael and I exchanged some healthy, but heated words. I refused to go into the store with him. I just couldn’t face the employees. I only partially know what Michael told them, but he returned with a full refund and we went to lunch. We were seated at the mostly deserted outside patio and Michael said “Okay, let’s get you a cocktail.” I started to say that a cocktail was unnecessary, but then I found myself ordering some cucumber, sake concoction for lunch. Then we called around to see if other stores had that table, which they did not. We were sad, so sad that when we made it to Whole Foods, we didn’t even look through the cheese bin.
We kind of lost steam after that. We went to a couple of other places, but didn’t find what we were wanting. A 36” wide round table that is 30” tall is not an easy find. We went home and spent two hours searching the internet for table options. I finally found one that we both agreed with and ordered it. It should be here Friday, but I worry about not seeing the table in person before buying it. Re-doing the dining room is proving to be quite the adventure that started with a speeding ticket I got as I raced to IKEA to pick up some benches. Who knows what calamity will ensue when I replace the china cabinet or when I convince Michael pull everything from the space and repaint that room. I probably should have started with the paint. I apparently do things backwards, but I am learning some valuable lessons along the way.
Such as don’t speed and always secure the cargo.