The KINGDOM mirror– proving that you NEVER KNOW what is on the other end of a Craigslist ad.
After the Victorian wardrobe salvage saga…
After spending four hours in an unheated building.
After ripping apart a wall with a toothpick.
After loading and unloading a truck until nearly midnight…
Paul told me to stop looking on Craigslist for a while.
He said I had reached my quota.
I nodded and pretended like he was the one who made such decisions.
Then I went and looked on Craigslist.
Now.
Three things:
1. I have a totally ill-advised fondness for anyone named Rocky.
2. Even I can see that a FIFTEEN foot-tall mirror may be too large for our house.
3. It’s probably total junk.
There are lots, and lots, and lots of mirrors in the antique-listings on craigslist. Half of them are junk. The other half aren’t even old. Plus, a posting with no photo is USUALLY a guarantee that it’s not worth your time.
So I closed the tab… and told myself it was nothing.
I certainly didn’t say anything to Paul about it.
But a few weeks later, I saw it again… and the primordial-mirror-troll that lives in my head said– you should find out what that is.
And I was like—look, mirror-troll:
A. Paul’s head will explode.
B. How could I get a 15 FOOT mirror into the house?
And the mirror-troll said— What if it’s fancy?
So I emailed the guy.
Did you read that?
Did you read it closely?
Is there any description that could possibly be more appealing to me than something that looks like a KINGDOM?
No. There is not.
The mirror-troll was like— S.C.O.R.E.
And I said— hold on, twelve-feet is still WAY TOO BIG.
The mirror-troll said—I bet it’s not that big.
I bet they didn’t even measure it.
I BET YOU SHOULD GET IT.
I was like– word.
So on Saturday morning, I said to Paul, casually— do you want to go look at something?
I think his hair actually stood on end.
He was like— WHAT?
No. No, I do not.
I was like— oh, okay, well… we could go this afternoon… if you wanted to.
You know what he said?
Nothing. NOT ONE THING.
That silence USED to make me insane. But now I see it as a stage in the Kübler-Ross model of acceptance.
Not even twenty minutes later, he said— what is this thing you want to see?
To you, this sounds like a question. To me, it sounds like defeat.
So. You can see that this is the smallest house ever.
Which did not at ALL bode well for what I was hoping.
We rang the bell, and the guy came out… He walked past us, down the front steps, and started down the sidewalk.
Paul said—should we follow you? Where are we going?
And the guy said— it’s in the alley, under a tarp… it doesn’t fit in the house.
I really wish I had a photo of the look on Paul’s face.
Paul said— what? How big is this?
The guy said—about 12 feet.
Paul said—TWELVE feet?
I could hear him gritting his teeth.
Sucker.
Sometimes? When Paul is giving me his best stony silence? I just pretend I don’t notice.
It’s way more convenient.
I said cheerfully— that’s NOT twelve feet tall!
Paul acted like this was somehow not of utmost importance.
He said— why did you bring me to look at a mirror that was advertised as 12 feet tall?
And I said— I didn’t.
It was advertised as 15 feet tall.
But I thought they might be wrong.
I guess Paul is jealous of the way the universe is my personal shopper because he didn’t even acknowledge that it’s pretty amazing how I psychically knew this.
To cheer him up, I told him— the guy says it looks like a kingdom.
Paul said— I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I was like— a KINGDOM. Kings? Castles? Have you seen the Vatican?
AND THEN:
I was like– I think I’m going to have a seizure.
The mirror-troll said—I TOLD YOU SO.
Proving for all time, that you NEVER KNOW what is on the other end of a craigslist ad.
It’s probably total crap. But it might be this:
I said— yup. For sure. I will DEFINITELY be needing that.
Let’s pack it up.
Paul said— are you kidding me? Are you even seeing the same thing I am?
And I was like— look at me. Look me in the eye. Do you really believe I am leaving here without this? Because I’m not.
If I have to go on steroids for the next six months? And get a trainer to teach me to dead-lift 1,000 pounds so that I can move it myself?
This will happen.
Paul has this look that he gets. Where CLEARLY he would like to kill someone. But now he is totally inconvenienced because he CAN’T.
Because he has to move a giant mirror.
Obviously, I’m fine with murderous-irritation… it’s a small price to pay for my everlasting happiness.
Besides, it’s not my fault that the universe WANTS ME TO HAVE THESE THINGS.
It is OUTSIDE MY CONTROL.
We went home to get Brian’s truck… and on the way, I texted a photo to my mom.
She said— WOW! I cannot WAIT to see it in your house!
I told Paul— my mom loves it!
Paul said– that’s because everyone in your family is an insane enabler with no concept of reality.
Which is true. And also why I love them.
What’s that?
You’re thinking this does not look totally reasonable?
Well, it is.
All we had to do was lay it on the bed of the truck. And then use the magic straps which, for about five dollars and a lot of irritation, will do everything including hauling giant bookshelves up three flights of stairs.
Which is a whole other post.
Then we drove home on I-95, which is 14-lanes wide… There is nothing like transporting a Kingdom down a freeway, at 60 miles-an-hour, while tractor-trailers blow by you.
You have not experienced the meaning of FUN. Until you have done this.
Especially since everyone got to listen to me say 47,984 times— OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING THIS. CAN YOU BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING THIS?
OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
Everyone really enjoyed that part.
The guys who helped us get it in the house (and will never help us move anything again because it weighs at least 800 pounds) were like—what are you going to do with it?
And I’m confused by what that question means.
I’m not going to DO anything with it.
It exists. Therefore it is mine.
The end.
see the HUGE Victorian wardrobe we salvaged
the greatest bookcase of all time
antique grand piano we turned into our kitchen island
see ALL my BEST Craigslist finds
September 17, 2017 @ 2:56 am
This is THE BEST STORY EVER.
Also, I think we are long-lost soul twins. XD
September 23, 2017 @ 3:34 pm
‘Scuse me; ehem: A love of gilded mirrors, a diy and bargain hunting home decor/design diva with a talent for expressing the above with wit and candor? The UNIVERSE brongs these things to you TOO? Please tell me you always had a feeling you were a twin. I personally have never had that feeling until right now but now I am convinced there has been a tangled web woven somewhere in the universe and it has finally brought us together.
October 11, 2017 @ 5:56 pm
What a find!! ….and hilarious😂😂 … My sister and I love to go junking:). It looks amazing in your home!
October 11, 2017 @ 8:43 pm
I’m extremely pleased to discover this site. I wanted to thank you for ones time due to this
wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and i also have you book-marked to look at new things in your
website.
October 12, 2017 @ 6:11 pm
He shall hereby be addressed as, St. Paul. Because he is.
October 23, 2017 @ 5:33 pm
I laughed out loud reading this, mostly because it sounds like something I have done. My husband would still be looking at me with cross eyes, but I would have gotten my treasure. Thanks for sharing.
October 25, 2017 @ 4:37 am
nice sorry but the pics remind me how much I hate philly.
October 25, 2017 @ 9:45 pm
1. Of course you had to have it. How could anyone in their right mind pass that up?
2. Great story. Paul is a trooper.
3. Only question left in my mind -How/why did the original owner come to have it? I’m so curious!
Awesome post.
October 29, 2017 @ 11:18 am
I realize this was written in 2013 and not 2017 , so why is this just being posted on FB? Anyway, about the mirror…..
Have you ever SEEN Antique Roadshow? Most likely the mirror is worth a fortune! You don’t buy a mirror like that at WalMart! Have you had it appraised yet? I mean ,it could be worth big,big money! Like $75,000 or more/less. Who knows ,maybe $175,000 !!
I know you love it ,but just imagine where it came from? Don’t do a thing to it. Do not paint it! Have it checked out by a serious professional,please. It could have come from royalty, it could have come from religion ( think Vatican) , think the Ancient Romans!
You can sell it (you’ll be rich) and have a copy made for your home and buy a new home!
It would drive me crazy not knowing it’s history!
October 30, 2017 @ 8:15 am
This story made me crack up and I could not stop reading! Thank you for the smile and giggles – now I’m off to read your others.
November 8, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
Loved the adventure! Your writing hooked me the same way the mirror did you. My had-to? I subscribed.
Thanks, that was fun.
November 23, 2017 @ 9:11 am
This is THE best! What a great find! And good for you for getting regardless of what negative Nancy says 😂
December 6, 2017 @ 12:22 pm
You are killing me! Especially since your truck looks like the exact same model as mine (from the bed POV, anyway)! White Dodge Dakota, ca. 2003? Obviously, I can bring home something equally ludicrous, er, I mean spectacular!
December 17, 2017 @ 2:44 am
Just wanted to say, WOW, it S a beautiful, awesome mirror! Lam happy for you that you found it!”! Congrats on your epic find!
December 18, 2017 @ 3:48 am
Someone needs to send this to Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)!!!!! (She’s the one behind Beyonce, the giant metal chicken.)
December 19, 2017 @ 12:24 am
When you’re done with it – may I have it please?
January 1, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
I love you! We also might be related! I have done this MANY times to my hubby! I will be doing it many many many more time too!! Love that you have two of them!! Awesome! They look magnificent!
January 11, 2018 @ 5:26 pm
I love you! You ARE my spirit animal. Can you train my boyfriend? His silence is NOT silent acceptance.
Did I mention that I love you?!?
-shirley
January 27, 2018 @ 6:28 pm
I love this post I just could not stop smiling while I was reading,and as I’m sitting in my bathroom trying to read it without my kid bothering me, (mom,mom,mom,MOM! In the backround,WHAT?,I snap)he finds me sitting on the tub with my cell up to my face,what doing?reading!watchya reading? A story about a lady buying a mirror!why? And I point to the 4×5 gold Framed mirror that takes up the whole wall above the sink,he just gives me this weird look and starts to slowly back out of the bathroom ,closing the door and a laugh ,he opens back up,what?I say ur face and this lady’s story is something mommy would do.
February 1, 2018 @ 2:33 pm
Love, love love the story..at first, I thought it was me you were talking about. 😊