04/17/2022
This is my overdue appreciation post to all that rallied to help keep me moving after the loss in early March. Ya'll are the real MVPs and turned a hard situation into yet another opportunity for growth and gratitude. Good people do exist, and help is out there if you ask. God has turned a dire situation into a catalyst for new business, and new friends. So, THANK YOU to everyone who pitched in. A very personal and special acknowledgement to Barry and Appalachian Hardware & Supply Co INC who had replacments in my hands in less than a week, worked with me on a payment plan including allowing anyone who wished to help to call him directly and make contributions towards the costs, and I suspect even "anonymously" contributed to my balance. Without this help, I'd have lost way more than the toolbox and it's contents. I'd also like to thank my family friend & customer Kim, who went out on foot at 4am in a blizzard to search for my tools, which was way above and beyond, My Uncle Butch for the gift which covered alot of the replacement costs, my new friend Randy for the donation, but also for sharing his personal story and for choosing me as his way to pay it forward, My mom, Sherry, for the additional babysitting so I could go search as well as the moral support, Betsy, Steph, and Donna for the encouragement and offering me to use/take what I needed from their garages/basements/sheds... And to my grandmother Irene who allowed me to take whatever I could use from my Grandpops woodshop, which included his orbital Craftsman sander, his wood rasp, and his small hand planer. There is a sense of comfort I can't explain when I use these tools, as if my Pop Pop is watching over me, saying Atta Girl Meggy, proud that his love of woodworking has rubbed off on me and of course making sure I am taking good care of them!
For those wondering what this post refers to, here's the back stoey:
In early March, the mechanism that latches the rear doors of my work truck malfunctioned, causing the doors to fly open while I was driving. It was late at night, dark, cold, and windy as we were about to have a blizzard. I never heard, felt, or saw the doors open for numerous reasons and one of my toolbox's containing both my sanders, all 4 of my large batteries, and several of my woodworking hand tools flew out. It was a devastating loss and put me in a tailspin of whys, hows, and whats. Why did this happen, how did it happen, how was I going to finish my current projects, how was I going to afford to replace what was lost, what was I going to do? I was pretty down on life already, 2022 hadn't been especially kind to me to that point and this just seemed to be yet another odd stacked against me. I am not a quitter, it's hard for me to give up, to let go, but that night, cold, exhausted, and desperate, after hours of searching the sides of the roads I had traveled in the cold and dark hours of the night, I was ready to throw in the towel. I took to Facebook and posted in numerous local town pages about what I had lost and where, asking if anyone happened to pick it up or see it to please get in touch. The toolbox still has not turned up, but, The outpouring of support and help I recieved turned a tough situation into a positive experience. I met a few new clients, had complete strangers offer their own hand me down tools and even monetary donations towards new ones from some. I was seriously overwhelmed at the generosity of the people close to me but especially the complete strangers who read my post and felt compelled to help simply because they were in a position to. I am humbled and filled with gratitude. My faith in humanity is restored! 💜
