dual personalities

Greetings from Daughter #2, with one more guest post before we hand the blogging reins back to the dual personalities!

I had an exciting weekend that revolved around chancing upon, hauling, cleaning, reassembling, and arranging an old secretary that I rescued from a friend who moved to Washington state. I had agreed to drive my friend (and her husband, baby, cat, and luggage!) to the airport for the final step in their cross-country move, and when I arrived, I saw her secretary lying sadly at the curb. I was so surprised, because I knew it was a family “heirloom” and I had honestly been coveting it for years. So when she said they simply didn’t have a place for it, the wheels started turning. Could I rescue it?!

Apparently it is very normal to leave things outside in this neighborhood like so

Unfortunately, it was drizzly and DN was not in the mood for an impromptu furniture adventure following a long work day. Fortunately, I was borrowing my MIL’s Honda Pilot and, armed with a pep talk from my sister, decided to tackle the task on my own. After the airport trip, I returned to the curb and figured out how to disassemble the secretary so I could load it in to the car–with the help of a kind passerby!

Everyone needs a friend with a truck

It took two full days of rearranging (with ample & necessary help from DN!) to fit this large piece into our cozy apartment, but I am thoroughly happy with the results. It is honestly amazing what Swiffers and Pledge can accomplish. I have always wanted a secretary desk, and now I have one — and a piece of my friend’s old home, to boot!

The glass pieces in the doors need replacing, but that will be easy enough to accomplish at some point

The lesson is this: when a piece needs rescuing, go for it, even if it seems inconvenient or like things won’t quite fit. You’ll find a way! My friend had said that none of the consignment or antique stores in the area would take the secretary because it isn’t mid-century modern, the only style that sells these days. Oh dear. Sometimes the best deal is the one that’s out of fashion, I suppose!