Transcription
Around the Cosmic Campfire by Tony Wright
Chapter 15b: Life Recycled
Story Two: The Fire Pit
A few years ago, I was scanning the internet to find a fire pit for the patio that I could afford on my single-mom budget. I had a big fire pit I had built out near the woods for burning serious burn piles and things, but wanted something small enough to move around and enjoy safely near the house and the patio. Everything I saw for sale was either too expensive or looked cheap and like it would not last through a year's worth of small burnings. I decided to ponder on it for a while. That's how I solve most everything these days; I put it out there and turn up the volume in my transmission channel.
One day, I was doing my weekly dump run to the recycling center, and as I pulled up to the bins, there was a pickup truck in front of my car. I waited a moment for this man to finish so I could pull closer. I watched as he opened up the back tail of his truck and saw him pulling out a wrought iron fire pit. I first thought it must all be burned up and full of holes; why else would someone be throwing that nice thing away? I actually did leap out of my car and approached this elderly man and asked him about it. He said his family had loved it for a long time but didn't use it anymore, as his kids were long grown and he had no need for it. He asked me if I wanted it. Yes, yes, of course! I was almost giddy. I squealed, "Of course!" Or maybe I waited and squealed in the car on the ride home; I don't recall. He loaded it into the back of my Rove, and I drove home with a wonderful, sturdy, well-loved fire pit that was free, and I couldn't have been more grateful. I gave it a good coat of Rust-Oleum paint and put some new life back into it. I still say thank you to him when I put my early autumn fire in there and sip a bit of sherry and smell my cedar branches burning.
Had I arrived at the dump one minute later, it would have been already in the bin and out of sight. He would have been gone for sure. It was incredibly perfect timing. Of course, life is good, and I'm so very grateful for all that comes my way. Thank you, my angels. Thank you for all your guidance, even in the smallest of matters. The more I have, the more I share, and I certainly do.