Archive for April, 2005

What a glorious day. Mild temperatures and low humidity made for a day you just had to spend outside. So we did. We worked hard, but it was a lot of fun. I put together our new swing while Mel mowed the grass and did a bit of yard work. I took some pictures as we worked and put together a little photo essay about our afternoon.

While working on the swing, I discovered the kit was one nut shy. Normally, I get really irritated when something is missing out of the box, but the day was too nice to ruin by getting mad. So I hopped into my car and drove down to a nearby Ace Hardware store.

I found the 5/16 nut I needed and took it up to the counter.

“I drove 3 miles to get a 6-cent nut,” I said to the guy at the register. I put the nut on the counter and started to pull out my wallet.

“Let me make it worth your while, then,” he replied. He picked up the nut and handed it to me. “No charge.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Really,” he said, smiling. I thanked him, put the nut in my pocket, and made my way back home.

Fortune had smiled upon me once again.

You see, I had spent my last bit of cash a couple hours earlier on a lottery ticket. Because I had not expected to go out again, I didn’t bother going to the ATM to get more. What’s more, I had forgotten about my cashless situation until I was pulling my wallet out at the hardware store. Oops. I was wondering what else I would buy, because I would have been mortally embarrassed to put 6 measly cents on a debit or credit card.

That guy behind the register saved me from my dilemma. In return, I’m going to make a recommendation. In case you need something from a hardware store anytime soon, check out the ACE Hardware store at the corner of Manchaca and Slaughter in South Austin. Nice people work there.