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. a FIFTEEN-foot-tall mirror is far too large for our house.
3. a posting with no photo = guaranteed garbage.
So I closed the tab.
But a few weeks later, I saw it again… and the primordial-mirror-troll who 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 would 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, than something that looks like a KINGDOM?
No.
There is not.
So the mirror-troll was like— S.C.O.R.E.
But I was like— ummm hello, 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 not precisely the kingdom’s home I had imagined; and I was sort of like, hmmmm… is it possible the mirror-troll has steered me wrong?
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— wait. What? How big is this?
The guy said—about 12 feet.
Paul said—TWELVE feet?
We got to the backyard and I said cheerfully— look! That’s NOT twelve feet tall!
Paul acted like this was somehow not of utmost importance.
He said— did you bring me to look at a mirror that was advertised as 12 feet tall?
And I said— no.
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.
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 was like— alrighty then. 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.
Then we drove home on I-95, which is 14-lanes wide… and I have to say that 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 CAN NOT BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING THIS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING THIS?
I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
Everyone really enjoyed that part.
The guys who helped us get it in the house 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 even GIANT-er FANCIER mirror I got at auction!
June 25, 2013 @ 3:19 pm
I LOVE it! I want one… Now… I think I know where to put it, before my husband gets home.
June 25, 2013 @ 3:23 pm
My husband has also actually said to me “are you seeing the same thing I am”. No imagination on what we can do with great finds.
June 25, 2013 @ 3:26 pm
You are a ROCK STAR!! Love the mirror and Love your story telling! I totally need to come be your understudy so I can do this with my hubby too. giggle. Hugs from Conroe, TX
June 25, 2013 @ 3:31 pm
Ok, I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how much I’m in love with your sense of humor! Lol! My husband is the same way and basically does everything identical about anything I want to do re: what I find on the internet…lol! But I think I jumped out of my skin out from excitement reading this! My gosh…the find of the century!! Awesome!!
June 25, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
You are definitely a woman after my own heart… That is an amazing find, but you obviously have a knack for finding treasures!! You would be fun to go treasure hunting with… Can’t wait to see your next find!
June 25, 2013 @ 4:18 pm
If I had a chance to buy a mirror like that, I’d definitely buy one! Now I’m not sure where I’ll put a mirror like that, may be it could replace a small wall 😉
And how good would it be pose in front of that mirror!! Awesome! I never thought you could get something like that!
June 25, 2013 @ 4:41 pm
As someone who sometimes has to just back away from looking on Craiglist because our house is too small for one more thing…… this post was amazing! You had a mighty good gut instinct that really paid off. I KNOW my husbands head would have spun counter clockwise had I done the same thing!
June 25, 2013 @ 5:04 pm
You were lucky. There are a lot of con artist on Craigslist. Your mirror (or I should say mirrors)
are beautiful. What a find!!!! You go girl!!. LOL I love it.
June 25, 2013 @ 5:25 pm
This made me giggle!
Thanks!
June 25, 2013 @ 5:58 pm
I absolutely love the Mirror! My biggest find on craigslist to date is a marble, yes marble table with marble legs. They had it in their dining room, I have it in my outdoor living space (ie, by my arbor by the bonfire pit!) Cost a big fat ZERO! yes you did read that right.
June 25, 2013 @ 5:59 pm
That was such a hoot! Could not quit laughing… Really hits home with me. I’m so glad you got it and so glad you have such a wonderful husband!
June 25, 2013 @ 6:12 pm
Amazing mirror! And, what a great storyteller. Absolutely hilarious. <3
June 25, 2013 @ 6:56 pm
Ok…hands down…this is the funniest, most entertaining, but above all, well written post I’ve ever read. Thank you! I’ve worked all day in front of a computer and about ready to scream, until a friend posts this on my FB page. When I click on it, the first thing I see is your awesome set of pearls, and I know I’m in for a treat…but little did I know that I would be laughing, snorting and nodding my head in agreement. (re: I have a Paul here too named David) Thank you. Your home, mirrors, floors and table art, are to die for.
leslie
June 25, 2013 @ 7:45 pm
THAT. IS. AWESOMELY. BEAUTIFUL.
June 25, 2013 @ 7:50 pm
… well… there you have it… insanity… total insanity… we should be neighbors.~love~
June 25, 2013 @ 7:55 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post – laughed out loud through the whole thing!
June 25, 2013 @ 8:04 pm
The icing on the cake is that you ALREADY HAVE ONE.
Well done.
June 25, 2013 @ 8:13 pm
OMG, this is the funniest blog post of all time anywhere on the internet. Even my husband was laughing! What a totally enjoyable read. And that is one seriously gorgeous mirror, although I question the use of the word “kingdom” as a descriptor. However, the word “kingdom” made this story that much more hilarious. Kudos to you! You are HILARIOUS!!!!
June 25, 2013 @ 8:18 pm
I completely enjoyed this adventure and outcome. Big Smile
June 25, 2013 @ 9:18 pm
Promise me you will adopt me so that I might inherit this treasure one day to complement the Pier mirror (9′) that I shipped from NY to Indiana against the protests of my wife. In fact, maybe we can orchestrate a swap! (Of mirrors, not spouses).