A Glass Vase

There was this wooden candlestick and a glass vase. They simply have my mother's name written all over them. I let the candlestick go to a woman who admired it. I repaired it with a little wood glue and set it in the from window.  She offered no money for it, oh well.  No one other than my Jehovah Witness friends, including Kathleen, ever offered any money.

I believe the vase was a wedding gift.  It always looked great in the middle of the dining table.  Especially when it was filled with tiger lilies!  Perhaps they are day lilies.  They are orange.  One stem would offer several blooms.  As soon as one withered, another opened. This large glass vase, although chipped, is ideal for the lilies that grow, late in the season, in the side yard.

I'd been meaning to bring the vase to the glass store in Bayport.  I had passed by several times.  It seemed like a real crafty type of shop and they were likely to have the type of equipment, perhaps a type of lathe, to smooth out the chips.

I purchased a dremel with a diamond tip instead and initiated my own repair.

One day, as I was passing the shop, I stopped in.  I had a brief conversation with the woman who stood behind the counter.  "It's just so hard, letting go these beautiful pieces that have such meaning."
It's a type of attachment.  Almost sinful.  I wanted to tell her about the lovely Fairy I had in the kitchen.  How I had taken it down from atop the cabinets in order to take a picture of it, how when I went to return it, I wanted to kiss it.  The thought of having this much affection for an inanimate object reminded me of something I read in the bible about idol worship.

I thought it best to preface the story."I read the bible," I began. The woman behind the counter replied, "I read the bible too!"  Surprised, I told her that I was currently in Leviticus.  She happily responded, "I'm in First Thessalonians."  Most intriguing is that the witnesses worldwide are currently in that book!  She just has to be a witness !!!!

Sure enough, Sandy Seth, the owner of Colorful Visions Glass Art Glass Studio in Bayport, NY is a baptized sister.

Household Bills

The telephone bill continues to be in Herbie's name.  Also the bill from the Suffolk Country Water Authority.

The name Grumm was always the only Grumm in the phone book.  The listing was still there, the last time we had gotten an actual book.  I wanted to wait to the last minute. 

Today, I decided to get my Internet services through AT&T instead of Optimum.  Well, I think Optimum cancelled the service because I had neglected to pay for two months.  Perhaps three.  I called AT&T today to see if I had unlimited data and could access the Internet from home.

"What do you use the Internet for?"  The woman asked.  I planned to explain how I spend a lot of time on JW.ORG, how I stream many of videos and music files.  "Well you see, I'm going to be baptized a Jehovah Witness and I go on the website everyday . . . "  Immediately the AT&T representative proclaimed, "I'm a a baptized witness!"

Not only did she help me get set up with a plan that may best serve my needs, we chatted about several like-minded issues, like the current hot topic of this corona virus.

I told her about the cancelling of our March assembly. She mentioned the closing of a Kingdom Hall somewhat nearby in Alabama, not hers, yet.  "Indeed!" I said, "I just got a text message alerting the group that our hall will be closed AND ALSO THE PREACHING WORK will be suspended until further notice!"

She spoke like a seasoned sister . . . . . (ELABORATE)

When we were saying our goodbyes, each exclaiming how nice it was to meet each other like this, she said, "I'll see you in the next system!"

The Piano

It was certain, the piano would be put to the curb.  They trashed just about everything else. They cleaned out the basement and it all went into a rented dumpster. Hauled away, half full, not even.  

Ecstatic, I was, after listening Eric's message.  Eric Schniederman in a young man that worked with me from Frank and Camille’s.  He suggested that we get the piano into the store by Christmas, thus, I had the piano taken away mid November so it could be restored.  

I called back.  He was so pleased to tell me that the Yamaha went to “the cutest little seven-year-old.” She wanted it immediately.  She couldn't wait to get it home.  He didn’t say if the price was right nor if it actually appealed to her, I didn’t ask. 

He was happy to report that he was going to be able to give me a few hundred dollars more than we had originally agreed upon. 

Apparently, the piano was worth more than we had thought.   The legs were a bit questionable since we had moved it ourselves several times.  We brought it with us to a temporary residence, up a flight of stairs. It was used to barricade the apartment door.  

I reported the good news to my current counselor-of-a-friend, about how I will be sharing the proceeds with my siblings.  Instead of $75, I will give them each $100.

“That is so . . “ she was reaching for a word . . she completed her sentence, perhaps she said “that is so thoughtful of you.”  I missed it because I had immediately offered on of my grand vocabulary words.  “Magnanimous!” I said gleefully immediately shooting up my left palm while meeting her eye, I did a lip curl.

PRESENT TENSE

Edited by My Own Personal Editor, Jeannie Mason

THE PIANO (present tense)

Ecstatic that the piano won’t be put to the curb, I listen to the message from Eric, the young man at Frank and Camille’s.  I call him back.  He is pleased to report that the Yamaha has sold, as he describes it, to “the cutest little seven-year-old.” She wanted it immediately.  

He doesn't say if the price was right or if it actually appealed to her. I don't ask, but he is happy to report that he is going to be able to give me a few hundred dollars more than we had originally agreed upon.

I report to my current counselor of a friend how I will share the proceeds with my siblings.  Instead of $75, I will give them each  $100.

“That is so . . . “ she reaches for a word. Perhaps she says that is so thoughtful of you. 

I offer one of my grand vocabulary words,  “Magnanimous!”  Immediately, I flip my left palm to the air and meet her eye with a deriding sneer.