So our new sofa. Long post. I have been, off and on, searching for a sofa to replace our 13 year old totally trashed family room sofa that has seen it’s day. I found a great deal for $100 brown leather sofa. I picked that one up and then we still needed another to replace the 13 yr. old loveseat that went with the trashed sofa. Today I just happened to see a Craigslist post for another leather sofa for $100. I texted and called a woman about it and decided to head over and see/take it. Well the experience was one that made quite the impression on me. Some of you know we have a big Dodge diesel truck. I have to pull myself in.
Not believing that a leather sofa was $100 that looked like this, I jumped in and headed on down to apartments behind the Peppermill here in Reno. Some are nice and some are not. This happened to be at the Sherwood Forest Apartments that was less than nice. This neighborhood was not one that I felt like I would be uber safe in. I didn’t feel scared to the point I wouldn’t go, but it caused hesitation. Once I arrived I met the husband of the woman I spoke to. I backed my big ass truck up to the STAIRS of their 2nd floor apartment. I have pepper spray in my pocket and hands on my keys. Being from AK I never really think about this, but my hubs puts the fear of god in me. So I meet the wife who I had spoken to today. I peek in the apartment and see the sofa. It really spoke volumes to me. Spoke to me about my past in AK and living without running water and taking showers at my elementary school and then doing a little better with an unfinished house and how my life has changed since that time.
I peeked into this apartment today that was very small and sparse. A little family of 3 with a 2 yr. old boy. I see that the sofa I am buying is the only adult furniture in the “room”. No matter what the condition would have been I would have bought it. This little family needed the money. I wondered what the story was. Me, the wife and the husband struggled to get this sofa that turned out to be a VERY heavy sofa bed (bonus for us). We did it and scratched the sofa even more. Meanwhile Chip McVey was at home wrangling 3 of the 4 monkeys since I decided I, and only I, could go get this sofa.
I called him when I arrived and kept my phone on while all of this was happening. About 1/2 hour later we managed to get it in the truck. Another man came about and helped us maneuver around to get 2 pieces into the short bed truck. The 2nd man had been scouring the parking lot for change to get something to eat. The little family thanked me again and again for buying their sofa. I left them nothing in their tiny living room.
I had no more change for the helper so I dug through my purse and gave the good guy who helped about 2 dollars in quarters. He was so appreciative. As I drove away and viewed more of the neighborhood I just felt so much emotion. I wondered how the people I saw in the parking lot got to the apartment building. What was the story of the family that sold me the sofa? What are the stories of the other sights and sounds I experienced this afternoon? For me it was a lesson in gratitude.
There are days when I struggle with busy and stress and more. My FB friends have heard it. I struggle with my weight and am off and on depressed about that. I was thinking to myself today that I am grateful that me being fat is my biggest complaint. There are many dynamics in my family and ugly habits and things that come with it. I love my family but some things are not pretty. Despite that, I am grateful. Seriously grateful. Taking this trip down to buy a sofa has turned out to be so much more. Please know that this isn’t foreign to me. When I get wrapped up in flights, business trips, preparing food and all of the other things in my life, I forget. I forget that it could be different.
I always try to give back but wish I could do more whether it be financially or practically. Then the thought is whether or no people want help and whether or not they had control or were out of control of their circumstances. I told Chip that I couldn’t articulate exactly how I felt about the experience. The best thing I can come up with is that it 1) took me back and 2) made me stop and think. really think. I wish the best for this family and still wonder how they were in the not-so-nice neighborhood with a small child.