Friends, there is a confession I must make: I have a temper. I get frustrated on a regular basis, and angry occasionally, but every once in awhile, I lose my mind with rage. It's pretty epic.
Today I got so mad I told a woman that I hoped she died a horrible death.
You're probably thinking, "JAYZUS. This has nothing to do with sewing."
Except it has everything to do with sewing, because it involves the most beautiful machine I've ever laid my eyes on:
This morning, Mama and Papa Grand, Rob, and I all went to an antique fair. It's a great time (usually), and I especially love seeing the people who are trying to sell broken Toy Singers for $200. Ummm ... not so much.
We are walking around and nearly done with the fair when Rob and I stumble across this being used as a display in a man's booth. My heart drops - it's an instant case of LUST. I convince myself we have no room, not even for the price of $39. Yes, $39.
Eventually, both Mama and Papa Grand come over, they are trying to convince me to get it, I say we have no room, and Rob talks the guy down to $25. Boom. Rob hands over money, kisses my cheek, and we both agree that this 1935 sewing machine will be a stunning display in the window of the sewing studio I'm hoping to open in +5 years.
Unless of course we can get the electric extensions working and then I will be using this immediately.
Now, you may be wondering how this goes from such a glorious moment to one of complete horror. In the 30 seconds (that's not an exaggeration) between Rob handing the money to the guy and us standing there, basking in the beauty of this machine, a woman comes up and wiggles into our little circle. She asks how much the machine is, we say it's been sold - we've just bought it. She then pushes my mother's hand off of the extension and proceeds to try and look under the extension for a price. She lets go of the extension almost immediately in midair. The entire machine folds in on itself as the extension SNAPS closed so quickly that the cabinet is now damaged by the machine.
We all stand there in silence and horror as we reopen the machine and the once pristine extension is now marred with divots and scratches..
I nearly cried my eyes out, but I was so stunned that everything had turned so quickly. The woman defensively says, "I was just looking for a price! She had her hand on it! " We say to her, again, "We JUST bought it." "We told you it had been sold!" She just stood there grinning stupidly at us.
The poor vendor said he would give our money back, but we said no, we're taking the machine. The woman fled.
OH NO SHE DID NOT.
This is when the rage monster hit and I said, "Rob. I need to go say something to that woman." I follow her and wait until she comes out of another booth ... and then it was like the dragon was released.
Me: "I want to thank you for RUINING that machine I had just bought. YOU RUINED IT."
Her: "Well! HER hand was on it!" (meaning Mama Grand. Note to people: NEVER blame Mama Grand for anything. It will not work in your favor.)
Me: YOU. ARE. A. C---." (Turns and walks away.)
Her: "You are so rude! Go to hell!"
Me: (Turns back around. Gets back in her face. Rob shoves me away) "I HOPE YOU DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!"
Yep. And then I walked away again. If she had admitted that she had done it, if she had apologized, I might not have been so upset. Instead, she chose to blame other people for what she did and damaged something that had just been given to me.
Rob stays with her to try and get her name so he can file a police report/charges in civil court to pay for the damages and repairs. (Lawyers are sexy, y'all.) She won't give it, so Rob goes to get the police, who wouldn't take a report and get the woman's name because it's a civil matter. Once I hear that, I'm doubly glad I said what I did.
As you can guess from the above story, my new year's resolution of less fighting with strangers went completely out the window. It didn't have a chance.
After the incident, I went and sat in the car and shook for 20 minutes. I apologized to Mama and Papa, but they were angry too, so it was okay with them that I lost my mind temporarily. I also apologized to Rob, who kissed me and said he still loved me. I'm lucky to have him, folks.
*Interruption: Mama Grand just called on the phone and told me she "almost pulled a Megan." (I guess that's what we are calling it now?!) She's at the gas station and a woman was closing her gas cap with the same hand that was holding her lit cigarette.*
Friends, I do love this machine. It's still stunning despite the scratches and damage it sustained today, and once we have a definite place for it, I will open it up and display it always. I hope that my anger cools a bit so that I don't always think of the woman when I see those scratches, but that's hard to say: I've been known to hold grudges for at least a decade. I also hope that my tale of sewing machine rage hasn't shocked you too badly as you are the last people I would ever wish to offend - I look at you as my friends, so I hope you'll forgive me for the language included here today.
I'm off to drink some wine and shake off today with a bubble bath.
Have a fantastic evening all, and we'll resume with our normally scheduled happy Meg tomorrow.
XOXO.