Restored 1880's Trunk Leather Covered Trunk

THE TRUNK RUN

The day started out well enough. The morning was sparked by an add in kijji for what appeared to me to be a rare Bride's Trunk - a high end fancy type style of trunk, leather covered from around 1880 -- albeit in rough shape but I know how to make it shine. The price was fabulous too -- fifty bucks would seal the deal and he was throwing in a second smaller trunk along with it. Only problem was it was at least an hour and a half drive away. I knew it was going to be a long day for me and facing more laundry at home wasn't really calling me so much, so even with light snow falling I prepared myself for a "trunk road trip" -- my favourite kind. The phone rang at around 12pm and the seller was going to be home all afternoon... with coat in hand I headed out the door. I love these trunk road trips... I never really know what is waiting for me at the end, and I get to listen to music or just play my own tapes in my head. No radio or Cd's this time -- just played songs in my mind all the way there, all types flowing in and out, verses, stanzas, one song to another helped ease my mind and soothe my soul. Even with the slick slippery roads the driving was good and the time passed quickly. As I was driving through beautiful drifting snow and watching evergreens heavily laden a thought of the love of my creator passed through my heart. I had the thrilling sensation that this Spirit of possibilities and I were on this road trip together and that this greater "presence" was enjoying the ride and the company as much as I was -- it was a happy together time - being alone and yet not.. (I'm pretty sure the creator of all things is into trunks too)-- it was a beautiful moment for the both of us and I felt happy. Following instructions I found myself in the heart of the countryside on a windy hilly road. Of course I drove past the address and had to backtrack a bit.. but not too much. I looked at the property and saw a long laneway leading up to an old house surrounded by trees and outbuildings on a gentle rising slope. The lane was dotted with trees on both sides and as I drove up to the farmhouse a big black Labrador retriever ran to meet my car halfway. Look liked he was going run right through the center of my car. Dogs scare me -- the bigger the more frightened I am. There was a gentleman in his mid-forties standing at the crest of the driveway with hat askew holding a shovel by a pile of wood awaiting my arrival. I figured the dog must be friendly as the owner showed no signs or reining it in. I opened the door and the young dog practically jumped into my seat he was so happy to see me. I brushed him away as best I could and got out of the car to meet the trunk seller. A wiry type of fellow with round small glasses and a beard with a small band on the end to create a little tassel. He greeted me with a warm smile and proceeded to escort me to the back of his house. We entered the back which seemed like a storeroom of some sort... but I realized that it was actually a part of the old dilapidated place he called home. All kinds of "brick a brack" was littered everywhere, chairs, and old pool table covered with junk, a wood stove keeping the place warm, some woodwork and a guitar leaning against a barrel. I had a comfortable sensation standing there, an old familiarity from childhood memories of my friends farmhouse back home. He asked me if I was in a rush, in which I replied "no"... and he offered me a cup of coffee. He talked non-stop... could not get one word in... he apologized for this, saying that he lives alone for the most part so when a visitor comes he just likes to ramble-- and did he ramble -- but it was a fun animated ramble, about the android cell phone he had and how the technology of it was "freaking him out". I could tell though, that he was educated by his vocabulary and deeper concept thinking. He said he did not work just now and that he was a musician. While the coffee was brewing he offered to take me to another building to see the trunk, and mentioned that he had a friend living with him, someone who had a difficult life problem, and that he was helping him out. He said his friend was an avid car collector. I asked what kind of cars he collected. Saabs -- old rare Saabs... and as I looked out the back yard I realized that there were at least 30 various old Saabs lying about the property. I pointed out that I was actually driving a Saab, and that my son owns two! Of all the cars that would hold any interest for me -- this was the field of dreams -- this also was my son's heaven -- his Nirvana. I asked if he would give me a tour and his friend showed up just at that time and we walked around the property -- me taking pictures of old antique Saabs I knew my son would flip over. What a "History of Saab" tours I had, and his friend in his mid 50's wearing a full faced balaclava was very glad to show me his prized possessions. Some were in garages, some in the woods, others in the field. I could harldy wait to get home to tell my boy. Once back in the house, tour all done, the man offered me a coffee and a chair and we sat by his wood stove. Sitting next to me was a battle scarred tomcat with large just healing scratches down each side of its head. It sat there quietly obseving us both -- eyes squinted, resting in a quiet repose. Ted then asked me if I would like to hear one of his songs... which I agreed to with a degree of trepidation and uncertainty. It seemed a bit strange because Ted had a speech impediment... slight but noticeable,,, not a stutter but a slurr to his words. He pulled out his guitar, sat on a homemade barrel stool and sang a beautiful happy song that was delightful. He said he had cd's and I could buy one if I wanted. I offered him my last 10 bucks left in my wallet and he promptly pulled out his cd and unwrapped it and autographed it for me with this inscription "Pay it forward". We then went to another shed where the wonderful old but very dirty trunk lay covered in a pile of wood. He promptly removed the wood and we hauled it to my car. He asked me what I did for a living.... I told him my profession, my "trade" -- "funny" he said, "seems you are the kind of people I seem to attract'' -- and I said... "funny,,,, you are too" and we had a good laugh. He told me a little of his life's story, how he lost his job, how he had to separate from his wife... and how he was doing the things he wanted to do -- and confessed that he liked smoking the weed a bit (of which I was tempted to ask if he had any readily available). He showed me a little wooden barrel he was making as a speaker box.... kind of crude and not well made but he was delighted with it... and I congratulated him on its formation. An hour had past and I did need to get home, so I bid him adieu, asked if I could come back to visit with my son for him to see the Saabs, of which he wholeheartedly agreed. On the way home I listened to his CD. What a cheerful, reflective, honest singer he was, with a strong Bob Dylan like sound coupled with an Eric Clapton cadence. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it all the way home... with songs of love, of hardship, of friendship, of peace and of hope -- the indomitable human spirit shinning through this man. A fabulous road trip indeed... even without the trunk!