The Real Authentic Thing: Case in Point #1

Now and then I get sucked into buying the wrong thing; usually it’s a sale item I talked myself into.  Invariably, I end up disappointed for the rest of the time I own it, and wind up disposing of it thinking, “what a waste that was.” And since last summer we disposed of most of the stuff we accumulated over 27 years of marriage, I find myself acquiring things – lots of things.

 

So when it comes to the property in Cashmere, I’ve got a new policy.  From now on, I will only buy the Real Authentic Thing. You know, the version of a thing that exemplifies the best of that thing.  The old- school, the timeless, the one everything else is a substitution for.  

Case in point number one is our new picnic table.  When we rolled the trailer over there, that gave us a place to sleep, but also a nice table for meetings, meals and hanging out.  Of course as the weather got better and better, we found ourselves outside more, missing a table.  So I started looking for a picnic table.  Not a plastic one made in China.  Not faux Tuscan or faux French or faux anything.  

Bear and Barb Milner delivering our new table.

Craigslist delivered the solution:  beautiful tables made from scratch by Bear Milner in Tonasket, WA.  I ordered the table in early May, and he delivered it on June 16.  We’re thrilled to have it.  It’s comfortable to sit at, long enough to seat 6 - 8 people, and very well-made.  He rounded over all the corners, so no splinters.  He used porcelainized screws so no rusting.  And chrome carriage bolts.  All at a rural eastern Washington price. With a little care, our grandchildren will inherit it.  

Leo Gonder (L), Wally and Matt Miller from Washington Window and Door going over our window package details.

We’ve eaten our meals there since the weather’s been lovely.  Even took a meeting on house business.  All made even more satisfying knowing a local craftsman got some business, and we got the real authentic thing.

We thought we’d leave it down in the orchard – the workers could eat their lunch at it, we might have an orchard party down there – it would just be happy living down at the bottom of the hill.  But after living with it this weekend, we think it may earn a place on our evening terrace up by the house.