A friend called us a couple of weeks ago to say a newcomer to the neighborhood had to get rid of a one-year-old barely used clothes washer and was willing to give it to us for free if we could arrange to remove it and a dryer with it.
Our friend knew we needed a new one and arranged the pick-up and transfer.
This was a real opportunity for us; our clothes washer is turning rusty and is ten years old because of supply chain and other problems.
A washer like this could run as high as $800, and we jumped at the chance.
We called Mike Conklin, our magician in residence, and he met us at her home a mile or so away and hauled out the washer and dryer (he’s going to get rid of it for us, we don’t need it).
We went to her house and met her; she had recently moved here from Saratoga Springs and, as it happened, had read one of my books. We both liked her right away and invited her to come and see the donkeys (she said she loves donkeys.)
Mike brought the new washer to our house and hooked it up. He took our old washer away. It’s headed for the dump.
Mike is great to work with, accessible, honest, super competent. We got a terrific clothes washer for free and made a new friend and good neighbor in the bargain.
(Washer in place and working, thanks, Mike)
Tonight I called our new neighbor and repeated my offer for her to call us anytime if she needed anything. She said she wanted a visit.
I don’t think anything that happened today could have happened in any city I lived in. It was a special day. (Mike did run his truck over our vegetable plants but only crushed a couple, and we got them back in pots.)
There are SO many good people out there. You and Maria give so much of yourselves, your art, your resources, this is karma. xxx
Small towns are the best! I live in one. I fell a few weeks ago, and broke one ankle and sprained the other. My sister flew in from NC (she lives in Wake Forest, a big town) and was just stunned at the amount of people who hurricaned me with love, support, rides, food, a ramp, ice packs, companionship and help with our yard! My Hubs was out of town when it happened, and was going to race home, but when we told him I was being taken care of SO well, and we encouraged him to stay and finish his work, he knew that this network of people would take care of me until he could get home. My sister marveled at the way this network of people rallied to help me. It was humbling and has kept me in a sense of profound love and gratitude. These loving acts of service from others have changed me forever.