The Singer - Both Audio and Text - W-Illustration

For years and years I’ve told my friends, and every family member, “Take your time deciding what you choose to throw away.” And when I think of all the things I’ve foolishly discarded, and now have come to wish that I could have again, today, It almost makes me cry out loud. But not because I’ve learned that some -- of what I felt had lost its relevance - and worth -- Now commands amazing prices…sells for crazy dough…to those who now are searching for them...all across the earth. Many things we see as insignificant when young have played a role within our lives we’re late to understand. We can’t foresee the need to have them near, to soothe our souls, until they’re actually gone for good, and - sometimes - in demand! And this bizarre phenomenon is not a new event…this “wild collecting frenzy” thing’s been going on for years. But, this was not the cause for what at first would seem peculiar when I observed a circumstance that drove me close to tears. Wandering through a junk shop, like I very often do, I happened on an incident that I will not forget. A young girl - prob’ly close to thirty - walked in off the street, and right away began to race around the shop…and yet, It was fairly obvious that she was having trouble finding something special she seemed sure was in the store. The owner of the business asked, “Hello there…can I help you? Is there something special, dear, that you are looking for?” “Yes, there is,” the girl admitted. “Last month - at an auction - I believe you bought an antique Singer sewing machine. I was out of town that day, and had to miss the sale.” “Yes, I did,” the owner said, “I know the one you mean.” “Is it still available,” the girl politely asked, “I’d really like to buy the piece… that is…if it’s still here?” “I just finished testing it,” the owner proudly claimed. “That machine, without a doubt’s, the best I’ve had all year. “I’d actually planned on keeping it. It’s very close to mint, but if you’ll pay the price for what I’d need to buy one new, I suppose I’d sell it. You wait here, and I’ll go get it.” I followed him discreetly… just to see what he would do. Just before the girl had entered, I’d been checking prices, digging through some doorknobs and some cast iron cars and trucks, And just behind those cars and knobs I’d seen the antique Singer that I am almost positive was priced at - fifteen bucks! I watched the sleazy dealer as he quickly pulled the price tag, then stuck it in his pocket as he took the small machine And walked it to the counter, where the waiting lady stood, then said to her, “Now, isn’t this the best you’ve ever seen?” “That’s the one I’m looking for,” she answered. “How’s it priced?” “Well, a new machine will prob’ly cost a hundred sixty-five,” The heartless dealer stated, as the girl wrote out the check. (I swear I’ll never spend another dime in that damn dive.) I trotted out and stopped her to politely let her know how - heartlessly - the dealer had so greatly raised the price. She smiled and said, “Oh, that’s OK. The price was not important.” A bit confused, I said, “I know the piece is very nice, “But maybe if you’d haggled just a bit…to get him down…you wouldn’t have gotten gouged the way you did by that old bum. Old machines like that are usually twenty bucks or less. No offense, but…paying what a new one costs seems dumb! “Why not a buy a new machine yourself…for that much money? Boy, I’d sure be angry at that guy if it was me.” That was when she started in - to help me understand what it is I’m actually trying hard to make you see. “Sure, I could have haggled some, but that just wouldn’t do,” she said, “you see… there’s something neither he nor you could know. More than twenty years ago…when I was just a child…my grandma used this old machine to teach me how to sew. “Getting it back means more to me than I can tell you, sir. It’s made so many special things…I don’t where to start. The outfit I was baptized in. My first communion dress. The gown I wore on prom night…when my husband won my heart “By asking me to marry him. The list goes on and on. And that is why I paid so much…I couldn’t offer less. It holds a million memories, and now -- I’m thrilled to say -- I’m going to make my little girl her first communion dress.” And that’s just one example of the zillions that there are where people make the same mistake…and that is why I say… “When you’re cleaning off the shelves…or sending things to auction…think it over reeeeeaaaaally good - before they…get away!”