a craig's list story

Years ago I was at my friend Brenda’s apartment.  While I was there, she looked at her dining table and decided she needed a new one.

When I came back a few days later, the old one was gone and the new one had arrived.  It was as if she had gone out that day with her to do list:  buy toothpaste, pick up library book, buy new dining table.

Not me.  I’ll search for years, literally, until I find the perfect whatever.  Sometimes it takes that long.  Maybe because I don’t’ have a big living space, I am careful about everything that goes in it. 

I will scour the internet and search the city until I find the exact whatever I need. But on occasion I “inherit” something I can use.

Such was the case with the country-style hand-painted buffet my sister gave me when she bought a new apartment in the city many years ago. 

It fits a lot of stuff, and for that it’s good.  But it’s too big for my space, and conflicts with the more modern look of the rest of my living room.  I don’t want it anymore.

I’ve been periodically posting it on Craig’s List.  I started at $800 (it’s probably worth that, but no one wants to pay that) and now I’m offering it for sale at $425.  I come across an email from a year ago when someone named Jennifer wrote to me and offered $400.  I said thank you, but no.

But today I think why not and write back to this Jennifer and ask if she is still interested. 

A few hours later I am doing some work for BAFTA and come across Jennifer’s name.  A couple of weeks ago Jennifer (with the same uncommon surname as the Craig's list Jennifer) and I had a phone conference regarding a BAFTA screening.  I wonder...

I call Jennifer and leave a voicemail and yes, it’s the same one. 

She doesn’t remember the hutch and asks for me to send a photo.  I do, and get this response:

Oh now I remember!! It's lovely.  We decided to do a built in ...  

We should definitely get together!

Wish the ending to this story were just a little different, but still, it’ll be nice to meet.

Know anyone who wants to buy a nice buffet at a great value?