A while ago, I mentioned a hobby of mine -- rebuilding old computers, getting them up and running again. I found a wonderful excuse for this when a friend of mine mentioned she runs a home-schooling co-op through her church, and were sorely lacking in computer stuff. It was almost a sign from above -- an actual excuse productive application for my little vocation.
It was an odd thing. I mentioned it to some friends, and they started giving me their old cast-offs. It got to the point where on Christmas day, I delivered seven computers to my friend, along with a couple of monitors and scanners. I wrote about that the day after, figuring it would be a nice, warm-fuzzies story for the Christmas season -- and, partly, because it was such a slow time, I was hurting for material.
I certainly never expected what happened next.
A long-time Wizbang reader and fellow New Hampshirite (also named Jay, but legitimately) saw that story, and it stuck with him. When his employer announced they were closing his office (and, coincidentally, letting him go), he was told to "get rid" of a bunch of computer equipment, in any way he saw fit, because they didn't need it or want to ship it down to their other offices.
Jay's original thought was to have some shotgun target practice, but his wife objected to the broken glass and plastic all over their property. That's when my piece came to mind, and he fired off an e-mail to me: would my friend be interested? (He's also a devout Christian, and the idea of helping out my friend's church group appealed to him.)
She being a very devout woman, wasn't free to express herself adequately. I'm not, however, so I answered for her with a hearty "hell, yes!"
It turns out Jay the reader lives about ten miles out of my way from my drive home. We talked a bit, worked out details and timing, and last night I swung by his house and loaded up ten monitors, all 17" or greater, along with about a dozen keyboards and mice. NICE ones. Almost nice enough to tempt me to keep one of the monitors for myself.
And today, Jay's last day in the job, he's going to grab even more stuff, and I'll collect that next week some time.
He's already got another job, a lot closer to home, and even better, NOT in Massachusetts. Kinda makes me wonder if there's something to this karma thing...
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Comments (6)
Beautiful! It's true...good... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Wonder Woman | January 13, 2006 11:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Beautiful! It's true...good or bad, it always comes back to you, somehow.
1. Posted by Wonder Woman | January 13, 2006 11:27 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 11:27
2. Posted by Bat One | January 13, 2006 11:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Coincidence is God's way of working anonymously."
An altogether nice story, especially with the holiday timing. Thank you!
2. Posted by Bat One | January 13, 2006 11:54 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 11:54
3. Posted by Parker | January 13, 2006 12:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
More people than you know are just looking for an excuse to do good - if you seek them, usually you will find them!
3. Posted by Parker | January 13, 2006 12:12 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 12:12
4. Posted by obbanner | January 13, 2006 2:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
** lot closer to home, and even better, NOT in Massachusetts **
My business partner used to say America is the only country in the world where you could be fired and get a better job.
4. Posted by obbanner | January 13, 2006 2:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 14:03
5. Posted by BlogDog | January 13, 2006 3:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Karma? So you're a Carson Daly fan too?
NBC presents its new show "My Name Is Jay Tea."
5. Posted by BlogDog | January 13, 2006 3:04 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 15:04
6. Posted by Todd | January 13, 2006 4:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay Tea -
My offer of the IBM PC, circa '80-'81, is still good - if you come around to the idea. NASA's trying to latch onto this notion.
Think about it. Do you own a boat? It would make good anchor material.
6. Posted by Todd | January 13, 2006 4:28 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 13, 2006 16:28