In August, I got an unusual, unexpected email from a stranger. The stranger told me about his girlfriend, who had brought over her favorite serving utensils for a dinner party at his place, including a set of very special, antique glass salad servers. Do you know where this story is going? On the way to her car after dinner, she dropped the salad serving set and the fork broke. She was crushed, because the set had been a wedding gift her mother received in the 1950s. The stranger googled around a bit, and found a treasure hunting report featuring my . . . you guessed it . . . glass salad servers!
Wouldn’t you know they were the exact same set!
He asked to buy them and for a moment (only a moment) I hesitated, because it took me four years of treasure hunting to find a set I liked, but I knew exactly how his girlfriend felt. You know that oogie feeling in the pit of your stomach when something crappy happens? I imagined her thinking, if only she hadn’t brought the set, had packed them differently, left earlier, anything! To break a gift of your mother’s after it had survived some 50 odd years makes it even worse. After a quick paypal transaction, I packaged up the set and sent it to its new home, where someone scored major brownie points.
Did I earn some good karma, too? Who cares, I am just so happy to have been able to help this adorable couple.
I’m thinking about this story because tomorrow is my two year blogiversary!! I’ve learned blogging can lead to some amazing and interesting connections, and really makes the world feel smaller (and friendlier). Being able to really have a positive affect on someone’s life, because I blogged about something as silly as my thrifting adventures, is just so mind-boggling to me . . .
Happy blogiversary! I feel just as you do about all the interesting experiences I've had and all the wonderful people I've met as a result of blogging…including meeting you and your husband. Who could have known there would be so many extra benefits to writing about something you love?
I know! I count meeting you as one of my awesome blogging experiences too! What a lovely benefit to something we already enjoy doing.
What a great story! Blogging brings all sorts of interesting connections. Congratulations and happy blogiversary!
Thanks! Tomorrow I have a really fun post planned to commemorate!
That's a great story. I love the connections that this darn internet can make….such a crazy but sometimes very small world.
The internet has connected us in the most random of ways, hasn't it?? I never would have thought someone would email me asking to buy something of mine, lol, but I'm so happy they found me. It feels nice to have made someone happy.
Happy Anniversary! It's a good thing you did, t – I've had irreplaceable stuff break before and it's the most awful feeling.
Thanks E! I know, I have broken some special things too and would have been so happy to find a perfect replacement.
What a cool story! Happy Blogiversary! You definitely earned yourself some good karma today! 🙂
Small world, right? Thanks for the well wishes! Hopefully that karma comes my way soon . . . lol.
What a lovely kind person you are. Your kindness shows through in many ways on your blog. It is one of the reasons that I enjoy your blog so much. Congratulations on your 2 Anniversary and wish you many more.
Thanks, Cathy. That really means a lot to me. I try to be a good person, even though sometimes it's not easy. I feel I have been so lucky in my life and have had so many people be so good to ME, it only seems right to pay that forward when I can.
Thank you for sharing this story Tanya – there is no better feeling than when you can do something nice for someone else, this really made me smile! And congratulations on your second anniversary – you've done a lot in just two short years!
I'm so happy you enjoyed reading about this little blog happening. I thought fellow bloggers would enjoy because we're all putting ourselves out there with our blogs. I'm warned a lot about not revealing too much because of identity theft and other scary things. But nice things happen, too!
You are a good deed doer!!! I can't imagine how much bubble wrap you used to make sure they weren't damaged when you shipped them! I would go bubble wrap crazy!
Haha, SO much bubble wrap was used!! This set was perfect – not a single chip – and I wanted to keep it that way. They were sent to the US, quite a ways, so I did wrap them like crazy. Then I waited with baited breath until I received word they arrived in perfect condition. WHEW!
This is why I keep coming back to your blog! The adventures run the gamut, and the point of view is generous without being sticky. Thank you for being out there making the universe lighter — even when the research is dragging along and you're wondering what next. My family is moving this weekend, with the usual calamities expected. I'll be thinking of your kind decision about the salad set and hoping for new neighbors like you.
Thanks for your kind words! I hope your move goes well – without a hitch! – and that you do find yourself beside friendly new neighbours. Our neighbours have put their house up for sale and although I hope they successfully sell and find their dream home, I am so sad to see them go. So I'm hoping we get nice new neighbours too!!
I love this story with a happy ending- that was so nice of you to part with your set. And what a guy to search out replacements for his girlfriend. I appreciate how it feels to replace something special- I had a pressed glass cookie jar that my mom received as a wedding present. It wasn't crystal, nothing expensive, but it reminded me of my childhood- filled with homemade oatmeal cookies. And I thought it was pretty. I kept it on top of my fridge to ensure it's safety but one weekend away with my sisters, my husband moved it out of the way to access the cupboard and it met it's demise into a million sparkly bits. I knew it was an accident so I tried not to be mad about it but I was so disappointed. A couple months after, I still hadn't thrown away the lid. I just wasn't ready to let it go, even though I had no purpose for a lid without a jar. But remarkably, while perusing the Goodwill, there it was. The exact cookie jar in all it's sparkly, chunky glass glory…. without the lid. I couldn't believe it- it was like I was fated to find this one to match the lid I was still hanging onto. I was so elated. You did a good thing!
That gal is pretty lucky, right?? He definitely worked pretty hard, finding and emailing me, then reimbursing me and paying for shipping. He also had to trust I wouldn't take his money and run, lol.I LOVE your story. Hubby must have felt so guilty!! I admire your ability to not get mad – I'd have been so angry. I am so happy to hear you found another one. That is amazing!! Plus, it is SO smart that you kept the lid. I probably would have pitched the lid, only to find the lid-less one. I'll have to remember your good luck if anything of mine goes smash.
Good karma is coming your way! Lovely!
I found a great minty green, mid-century inspired salad serving set at a Euro store (aka the 390 forint store, which makes me laugh) that are made somewhere in the EU. A sweet set for less than $2 that's made in Europe? Yup, karma came my way 🙂