fetched

I actually began living in a Northeast Portland basement studio apartment around two in the afternoon last Thursday. Friday morning my landlord, who lives in the rest of the house with his wife – Rick and Tracy – texted and said he’d like to come see how I have things set up. When he came down I noted that this was less than 24 hours into my life here, and it would for sure look different a month from now. I said I bought a table from a guy who’s delivering it in a couple of hours, and I’ve decided I want something like a coffee table under the window for plants, flowers, buddhas, kitties and other wondrous examples of life. And maybe another chair or two.

The guy came with the table – I bought from him on Facebook Market Place – and it’s way cool, and then I headed over to my new closest Starbucks for a coffee and to scribble a few memos to self. While I was there I got a text from my landlord who said he was out riding his bike and saw a free table-like piece of furniture on the sidewalk at Tillamook and 27th. So, as I pay attention to all offers, I drove over after coffee, and there it was.

I lifted one end and it was crazy heavy and then noticed an older man (older than me even) on a porch eating some fruit in a bowl. I asked if it was his piece of furniture and he said it was and would I like help and he put down his spoon and came over and helped me lift it and slide it into the tight-squeeze back seat.

When he was walking back to his house he turned and said he hoped I would enjoy the piece because it had belonged to his family for 80 years. I told him I would honor those years, and forever treat the piece with reverence.

See. See. My landlord wants to poke around, I tell him an idea I have, he sees a piece of furniture with a free sign on his bike ride, he stops to text me, I follow the invitation and drive over and there it is and the owner’s there and helps me lug it in and shares loving family history and I bow to every bit of the Universe as it comes to fetch us and hold us, and often it’s just saying yes.