The Microwave Story

 As I drove out the parking lot of my apartments the other day, my maintenance man, Barry, flagged me down. I stopped, and he handed me a card for a potter in Banardsville. He has shared some pieces of pottery with me, and I show him some I have collected and made.

Anyway, he said I should look up this potter. I said ok.

Then I mentioned I was off to Walmart to purchase a new microwave as mine had broken. As he is super handy in many ways, he asked what was wrong with it. When I explained that it turned on every time I closed the door, and didn't respond to any of the buttons any more, he agreed it was a goner.

I asked how could I dispose of it, and he said to bring it down for the Friday household goods pickup by the town.

Old door release button had broken and been taped back onto the microwave, which worked for 4 years.

Then he said he had one that I could have free. Another resident had died recently and her relative was cleaning out her apartment, and there was a red microwave I could have. He said he'd bring it over the next day.

He didn't, and I didn't see him the next day. So when I told my friends of my good fortune, they raised their eyebrows a bit. Well, I could do nothing but wait and see.

And the next day I saw Barry, and he said he was cleaning it up and would bring it right over. I said, I know how to clean up things, don't bother. Within 10 minutes he arrived with this!

I only had a tiny bit of cleaning on the back still to do...he'd already covered front and interior!

The button to push to open the door is much harder, and thus probably won't break like the old one did. It has 1350 watts, at least that's the only number that I could discern on the back (being made in China just like the old one had been). It does heat water to a higher temp in 1:30 which is how I like to make tea or warm up coffee.

I'm so grateful. 

Barry said the guy wouldn't take any money for it. But I think Barry deserves a nice tip, if I can ever see him and slip it to him. 

I finally walked down the hill to where Barry parks his car, and leaves the window open. I slipped a thank you note (with Snoopy of course) and a few bills to him that way. He just finished work for the day and connected my new shower nozzle with a hose...can't wait till the morning to try it out! I told him he's the Papa of the place, taking care of so many of us.

Today's quote:

We can never underestimate this truth: No matter who you are, the biggest thing you do in any day is most often going to be a small act of kindness, decency, or love.

CORY BOOKER