Lloydie

The weather here is getting cold, we had snow last night. We were out at Leo’s today and getting chilled to the bone. We have sold all the wood stoves and they have given us a lot of room. Much more to clear out, but we can now see the end in sight.

Yesterday, I took a truckload to a thrift store. This store had such an attitude, they will get no more from us. First, the woman at the desk gave me the up and down look. Then she pointed to another woman who would take the goods. Now, this isn’t like I’m handing out diamonds, but we disposed of all the crap and this is mostly antique dishes and glasses and tons of books. The books are a weird variety, from super religious, to those on mind control and how to hypnotize women, to get rich quick schemes.

The woman who collects goods did not help me at all. I hauled in box after box while she looked down her nose at me. Then she told me that I had violated the fire code because I had unloaded so much that it did not allow a four foot aisle. It was all I could do to not sucker punch her.

Today’s load went to Goodwill, they know how to accept things. While loading our truck, my mom’s second cousin Lloydie pulled up. Lloydie owns a sawmill here, he’s obese, never been married, and quite simple. He talks with a lisp, so is hard to understand. Mom blames herself for his limitations, as she dropped him on his head when he was a baby. Today, mom gave him a calendar from 1936. He was so grateful. With everything he saw, he said, “Don’t throw that away.” “Keep that.” “That is a treasure.”

I was suddenly feeling the DNA. This guy is just like Leo, who is also like my mom…oh, damn, those genes are scary. As we left, mom gave Lloydie a box of old newspapers and magazines to take to another neighbor. Then we told Lloydie we’d meet him out at the bar for a beer.

It took Lloydie awhile and when he arrived he said the neighbor did not want the old junk. Had told him to go away, and that the junk was to be thrown into the recycling bin. Mom and I were stunned, then this neighbor walked into the bar and was very friendly and sat by mom and had his bottle of Sundrop. Mom introduced me to him as a historian… hmm…he looked more like a farmer to me. Mom dropped a bunch of hints as to why he wanted no more treasures, and it finally was discovered that Lloydie had delivered the goods to the wrong person. Same last name, spelled differently.

Whew, we are not out of people to give this crap to.