Long story short, I met a friend/coworker down in my old college stomping grounds this weekend. After parting ways, I took a drive around the familiar streets to see how things have changed {not much}. It was the night before trash day. In a college town. A good night for a drive.
As I was driving down one of the main drags, not paying too much attention, I noticed a dresser out of the corner of my eye. It looked familiar. It was a fleeting look but I recognized the style circulating around the blogosphere over the past year or so.
Now, I’m not big on trends. Typically, if something is too popular or trendy, I pass because I want to be unique & different. It can be an annoying trait but those that love me know it to be true.
I keep driving.
The dresser was sitting in front of a house with the drawers piled up next to it but not on the curb. It probably wasn’t out for trash. This area isn’t exactly Beverly Hills; people around here live with inside furniture outside all.the.time.
But what if it was trash? Perhaps I should just take another quick drive-by, you know, just for a better look.
I make the next U-turn.
Call it trash picking or rescuing, I find it difficult to ignore an abandoned, discarded but salvageable piece.
I accidentally overshoot the house and park half a block away in the parking lot of an insurance company. Lock my car. Walk back over to the house.
There’s a light on outside but the porch lights are off. I can see a light on in the back of the house but not in any of the front rooms. There’s no one on the street except cars whizzing past at 45 mph.
I’m alone and no one knows exactly where I am. Getting mugged isn’t on my Sunday night “TO DO” list. Perhaps this isn’t the smartest of ideas.
I decide to take my chances. Knowing the neighborhood, I wager the tenants are more likely to be stoners than the shotgun toting type.
Cautiously, I approach the dresser. I don’t want anyone to think I’m trespassing on their property. Will I set off motion sensing lights? Would anyone even notice if I did? I decide both are unlikely in this neighborhood.
The dresser is in decent shape. The veneer is chipped and there’s trash in some of the drawers but its sturdy and a good size. A good cleaning and a coat of paint would do wonders. Is it trash?? Do I really need it? Where would I even use it?
That last question is my most important - Where will it go? I try very hard not to drag home pieces if I don’t have a clear idea of where it will live. I find that more often than not, bringing things home just because I like them ends up being a complete waste of time & money.
I walk back to my car. Get in. And pull back out onto the main street.
Only to pull directly into their driveway.
The following goes through my head -
- Why not?!
- What would be the harm in asking if it’s trash?
- The worst they can say is, “No you crazy lady get off my property!”
- Don’t pay for it. Walk away if they want money for it.
- If it doesn’t work out, I can always put it out for bulk trash or list it on craigslist.
I knock on the door.
Twice. There’s someone inside but they aren’t getting up.
A third time, a little more persistently. Add a wave when they look out the door.
Andrew {we’ll call him Andrew} answers the door. Andrew appears to be your typical college kid or maybe someone who’s friends with someone who attends college. He’s in bare feet, jeans, hoodie & a hemp necklace; no gun or attack dogs. While confused as to why I am knocking on his door, he seems relatively normal. I introduce myself. He does the same.
“Hi! You don’t know me but I was driving by and saw the dresser sitting there. Is it trash? If so, would you mind if I took it?”
“I don’t know. Let me call my landlord. It was left here by the previous tenants and I don’t know if they’re coming to pick it up or not.”
:::: Seemingly lengthy conversation with landlord. It’s apparent Andrew has been dodging his landlord as the conversation quickly devolves away from dresser talk. I feel partially responsible for him having to talk to his landlord but, as a landlord myself, it’s probably all for the best. ::::
Confirmation! The dresser is indeed out for trash. I may have it. Andrew offers to help me get it in my car; what a gentleman.
It fits, just barely but it fits.
While I cannot condone knocking on doors of perfect strangers – at night, alone – I now own a FREE campaign style dresser and lived to tell the tale.
Campaign style furniture – yay or nay? Or are you still stuck on ‘the crazy’ I displayed by randomly knocking on someone’s door?
