09-19-2006, 08:41 AM
So today is amnesty day in Downers Grove. That means that once every couple years, you can put anything and everything on the curb and it will be picked up. It cost the Village a fortune, but the residents love it and clamor for it if it does not happen.
As a result, all day long on Monday, vans and pickups are cruising - with the whole family as crew - all over town rooting through trash. Last night, minivans with kids and all, driving by till 9 pm with the sliding door open and flashlights shining out in search of the good stuff.
Now that I have set the stage, this is my story.
I was almost home from picking up the boys from day care, going down Main St (a busy road with no parking) and what to my wondering eyes does appear? Nothing less than a Power Wheels Quad Ninja ATV!!!!!! On the curb!!!! You should know that I have wanted one since I was a kid, and now that I have kids, I want it again. But little Ted is getting ancy to be fed and ben is saying hes thursty, so I drive on home just dying with loss. When I arrive, I quickly hand off the kids to the wife, make an excuse of being "out of something" and dash out the door. Its still there! I park down the block around the corner cause I don't want to block the home's driveway, and run down the block to my prize.
Its mint. I check the wires - good, tires - good, linkage - good, stickers and body condition - perfect! I'm taking it!
Thats when I hear, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" I tun and see a car had pulled into the drive and a woman got out and was hollering at me, "We just turned around to come back and get that!"
So here I am deafeted, all my hopes and dreams evaporating....NOT! I become a hiena confronted by a jackel on the Serengetti of Main St over the new found corpse of a power wheels toy! It goes like this:
Lady: We just turned around and came back to get that!
Me: So did I
Lady: No, I mean we just turned around our car to come back here for that.
Me: I did the exact same thing. I parked around the corner and ran over here.
Lady: I want it for my seven year old.
I look at the car at the face of her 7year old son, and turn back to her. Struggling to regained my dignity and humanity, the only thing I can think to reply to that is:
Me: I want it for my four year old and this toy is meant for ages 3-6!
Lady: Well if you're going to be like that, FINE!
Basking in triumph, having fended off the smaller jackel, the hiena drags is prize back to its waiting minivan!
I confess my alterior motive to my wife, who responds, "You got a power wheels quad? Awesome!"
My son and I played on it till 9 pm watching other curb finders going by, knowing that I fought for and won the motherload!:p:
As a result, all day long on Monday, vans and pickups are cruising - with the whole family as crew - all over town rooting through trash. Last night, minivans with kids and all, driving by till 9 pm with the sliding door open and flashlights shining out in search of the good stuff.
Now that I have set the stage, this is my story.
I was almost home from picking up the boys from day care, going down Main St (a busy road with no parking) and what to my wondering eyes does appear? Nothing less than a Power Wheels Quad Ninja ATV!!!!!! On the curb!!!! You should know that I have wanted one since I was a kid, and now that I have kids, I want it again. But little Ted is getting ancy to be fed and ben is saying hes thursty, so I drive on home just dying with loss. When I arrive, I quickly hand off the kids to the wife, make an excuse of being "out of something" and dash out the door. Its still there! I park down the block around the corner cause I don't want to block the home's driveway, and run down the block to my prize.
Its mint. I check the wires - good, tires - good, linkage - good, stickers and body condition - perfect! I'm taking it!
Thats when I hear, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" I tun and see a car had pulled into the drive and a woman got out and was hollering at me, "We just turned around to come back and get that!"
So here I am deafeted, all my hopes and dreams evaporating....NOT! I become a hiena confronted by a jackel on the Serengetti of Main St over the new found corpse of a power wheels toy! It goes like this:
Lady: We just turned around and came back to get that!
Me: So did I
Lady: No, I mean we just turned around our car to come back here for that.
Me: I did the exact same thing. I parked around the corner and ran over here.
Lady: I want it for my seven year old.
I look at the car at the face of her 7year old son, and turn back to her. Struggling to regained my dignity and humanity, the only thing I can think to reply to that is:
Me: I want it for my four year old and this toy is meant for ages 3-6!
Lady: Well if you're going to be like that, FINE!
Basking in triumph, having fended off the smaller jackel, the hiena drags is prize back to its waiting minivan!
I confess my alterior motive to my wife, who responds, "You got a power wheels quad? Awesome!"
My son and I played on it till 9 pm watching other curb finders going by, knowing that I fought for and won the motherload!:p:
