This saga began way back on July 3rd. (Way back?)
I was anticipating the Independence Day celebration and at the last minute I thought I’d like to replace my old patio furniture with something new. I recalled seeing a nice, cast aluminum table with six chairs and some other matching pieces that would be perfect on our patio. I had seen this patio furniture in February, but didn’t purchase it at that time, having considered it was much too early in February to be buying something I wouldn’t be using for another three months.
I couldn’t recall where I had seen the set I liked. I was pretty sure it was Lowe’s or Home Depot because I spend more time there than I do at home. So, I visited those stores first, but didn’t find my furniture. I did find some fall fertilizer on sale but I didn’t buy it. It was July, so I wouldn’t need it for another three months.
I thought perhaps it might have been BJ’s, Sam’s Club or Costco where I’d seen the patio furniture. I hit the warehouse stores on a regular basis. Shopping the wholesale clubs has been part of my life for over 20 years. I began shopping at the “clubs” shortly after I started a business. I could buy in bulk, get a discount on my purchases and usually find everything I needed for baking and decorating cakes. One doesn’t typically find a 50 pound bag of powdered sugar during regular grocery shopping.
Eventually, my business became so successful I could no longer keep pace so I retired at an early age. “Retired” is not a truly appropriate term. I sold my business equipment and quit decorating cakes after acquiring a pretty good case of carpal tunnel syndrome. I have no retirement benefits or savings from that business so the only benefit I get is a permanent vacation from working 90 hours a week. Now you know what drove me to be an over-achieving volunteer!
Oops! I wandered off the track there…are you still with me? I was searching for the elusive patio furniture. I didn’t find it at the wholesale clubs either, but I did find some great back-to-school bargains. I didn’t take advantage of the 100 pencils package or the ream of notebook paper because I was shopping for patio furniture. (Never mind that I had no need for the ream of paper or the package of 100 pencils…ever!)
I next thought it may have been one of the big retailers like K Mart, Walmart or Target where I had seen the patio furniture, but while I did see Halloween costumes mixed in with the Thanksgiving paraphernalia, alas, I did not find my patio set. Halloween?
I was feeling increasingly pressured and nearly desperate to find the patio set I was certain would be the perfect complement to my patio, so took myself to the one place you can find absolutely anything: Pitkin’s! I did find a great buy on pellet stoves, but I gave up on the patio furniture. I bought a leaf blower.
Maybe Santa will bring me the patio furniture I sought. Surely Christmas is right around the corner!
