The Dead People

On the subject of buying cars my mom always said: "Shop the gazette in tiburon, wealthy people are always getting rid of good cars for cheap."

Sage advice from a woman who had five children, all commuting from the far reaches of West Marin.

She also, at the helm of many Marin County non-profits, was beneficiary to donations - some practical - some not, from one family relation or another.  We certainly weren't suffering as a family, but we knew a good deal when we saw one.  Often these "things" came our way for sorting before being shipped off to a boys home, a homeless shelter, a needy family.  Some items didn't really make for good donations.  Some items, like monogrammed wine glasses, ended up in the mix at our house of many, often being referred to by there new names "The Dead People's wine glasses" or "The Dead People's giant globe wine bar".  They became part of our family - but always looked a little high end and stuffy for our woodsy-hippie clan.  We didn't as kids know who they came from exactly, but we sure put things to good use. (I know, this is getting a little sick).

Today, as I drove my own secondhand car up the winding mountain sides of picturesque Napa, on route to fulfill my biggest kitchen remodel need, I thought about telling my son, "Buy kitchen appliances in Napa, there are lots of good deals to be found."  This was of course as I headed through mansion lined streets looking for this lovely woman who had recently remodeled her own kitchen in a Mediterranean style and didn't like the color of her oven.  The oven I speak of is a six burner, very well maintained, dual function Wolf range.  It's black.  Her kitchen is cream colored.  It was a problem. 

And now it's my problem.  My beautiful, picking it up Saturday, loving it already, glad to rescue it from her garage and get the awful beast off her hands, problem.

I didn't end up explaining these social intricacies to my son.  He doesn't need my issues.  I am however considering telling anyone who comes over that I scored this one  from the Dead People.

Comments

[Frances]

Just what I was going to say, Mrs M! I don't think I'd actually want a dead person's stove, would you? Just in case it was the cooking that did it. Do you remember the store "Dead People's Stuff" that was on the Blvd for a while? It was very cool, but I think the name was just too bold for the average used-furniture buyer. I don't mind it myself, but I know a few who won't have anything old and certainly nothing re-used in sight! Congrats on the range, however, I do think it an incredible coup and well worth a trek up through the wilds of the Napa Valley!

[Suzanne]

Drooling. I'm drooling. All over my keyboard. Damn you.

[Lesley]

Wait! The lady who sold it you is not dead though, right? Hope she doesn't read your blog. LOL!