Val the Enabler

Hick has a junk problem. Oh, it's no problem to HIM! But he has a two-story BARn, and a Freight Container Garage, filled with things he might one day use. 

I should have known there was really no reason for building the Freight Container Garage, other than Hick had already packed the BARn to the gills with his "treasures." In fact, the very week the FCG was complete, Hick bought 18 storage units, and proceeded to stash the contents in there. It has a car lift installed that has never been used. Because there's too much stuff around it. To be fair, Hick has sold off some of those contents by now. And given some away to other flea market store buddies. There's still plenty left. 

Hick's quest for FREE stuff continues. Some of it's good. Like the bathtub and shower surround that he picked up along our county blacktop road, and used for the bathroom in HOS House. And the bathroom sink he stopped to get on a different county blacktop highway on our way home from a casino trip. I think maybe it went into the Beauty Shop.

Ever since we were married, living in my $17,000 house in town, Hick has been on the lookout for stuff. I even started helping him! On the way home from the bank one day, I saw a strip of something on the road. We were putting new siding on an addition to my house. It looked like the trim stuff. And it was white. Same color! Yes. I stopped my 1980 cherry-red Toyota Corolla in the middle of the road, and got out to pick it up. I had a Not-Heaven of a time getting that long piece of vinyl to fit in the back seat. When Hick got home, he took a look.

"Oh. That's J-channel. Yeah, I could have used it. But it's been run over too many times."

It's the thought that counts, right?

During our Errand Day on Thursday, The Pony and I were coming back from the bank. And at the same intersection where I had long-ago found the J-channel, I saw something in front of the only house in that area.

"Pony! Do you see that? It's a headboard! Solid wood. Look, it has a design carved into it. I wonder if Dad might want that. To sell in his shop, or put in one of the flip houses, like staging."

When we stopped at the Save A Lot a few yards down the street, I called Hick while The Pony ran in to pick up a couple things.

"It's out here by the old donut shop. Across from that one bank. On the same side of the road as where Walmart used to be. It's solid wood. Looks like it's for a full-size bed."

"Okay. I might take a look at it when I'm out that way."

Hick decided he didn't want it, but he called Old Buddy, in case he wanted it to sell in his own shop. That's what buddies do for each other. They're enablers, just like Val...