Retirement isn't for wimps....

Yesterday Larry & I went to a community with tons of garage sales about 10 miles from home.  We took the pickup just in case we found lots of treasures to haul home.  At one of the very first sales we discovered not one but two couches that match our favorite ones at home.  We have actually now found this pattern four times in all!  At this same garage sale we not only purchased the two couches but also a deluxe barbecue (which includes a side burner!)  As we were loading up the two long couches the seller asked how far we had to travel and whether we would use the freeway or not.  He said that because we wouldn't be on the freeway we didn't really need to use the tie downs.  Larry thought the bungee cords would be enough because it was for show only and the seller agreed and laughed about it.  I, however, was not so confident so on went the two ratchet straps and we agreed to come back later for the barbecue.  

We spent the next two hours going from sale to sale finding treasures here and there.  We got to one garage sale and Larry noticed one of the couches was missing!  MISSING?  Yeah.  Gone!  The other couch was hanging precariously over the tailgate so we hurriedly pushed it back in.  We knew it had to be on the road somewhere but where?  Retracing our tracks would take a miracle because we were in an area we had never been before!  A quick prayer and we were on our way.  We found out right away that we were on the wrong road with cars behind us and construction in front of us.  We wanted to turn left but were forced to turn right.  Had to go a mile or two down the road just to turn around.  We finally got headed in the right direction and recognized an intersection we had passed through not 15 minutes earlier.  There on the corner of that intersection was our couch that someone had gently picked up and moved out of the intersection - even placing the detached leg on the cushion for us.  We parked, turned on the hazard lights and jumped out of the truck to retrieve our couch!  Luckily another couple stopped and helped us to load our cargo.  This time I secured our load more carefully using the straps across the top but also from side to side at the tailgate.  If we could have only closed the tailgate we would not have endured all the drama but the couches were just a tad too long for that.  

We were blessed in so many ways!  To even find the couch again was the first blessing.  That the couch didn't cause an accident in that intersection.  For helpful hands who moved it off the road.  For helpful hands who would not take a penny (or the $20 Larry offered to go have a nice lunch) for their timely help loading it back into our truck.  For the couch to be whole even though there was a little damage.  We could tell where it hit the pavement because on one arm was an 8" circle of black road rash with a tiny tear.  It could have been a LOT WORSE!   So grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who even cares about our couch!

Ouch!  Damaged couch below and next two photos with throw over the damaged area.

We were able to get both couches safely home and into our living room.  Below right is the undamaged couch.  Below left is couch we already had.  Last photo is of all three in our living room.