Ilium, schmilium--isn't that a bowel disorder?

I don't want to talk about unhappy bowels or faces starting wars, I want to count coups--I got a freezer at an estate sale this morning. Several siblings running the sale, and I paid the sister for the freezer and a couple of other things I took with me. I was there right at 8, hadn't planned to go, but I was coming back from dropping my son off for school and saw the sign and stopped. There was too much activity and stuff in the way to collect it right then. Okay, it's harvest gold, about 30 years old, but it's a big solid upright freezer and I'm set for next year's garden! I've always given away a lot of produce because I didn't have room to store it frozen and I haven't learned how to can, like my mom did when we were little (anyone else remember when we kids used to sneak to the basement with a spoon and a bottle opener and open mom's canned pints of fruit and eat them right there in the dark?)

I went over this evening after 5 to pick up the freezer--and the brother was gracious but still kind of fussy--he'd half-way planned to keep it, and they had so many offers for it during the day that he knew he could have gotten it for more than $30. (As we were standing there beside it discussing how to empty the contents a fussy little lady pushed past us to take a look at it--ignoring the "sold" sign and our discussion.) I figured for that price I could afford to have a new gasket put on if it needs it. It's thawing in the garage right now--and it looks great. As the brother cleaned out the freezer we talked, and at least he knows it's going to a good home--a gardener wanting a place for produce, plus we found we had a lot in common (he has worked in theater set design, and that is what Caroline will study, along with costume design). I figured it was better for me to charm the fellow than to 1) offer to pay more for the freezer or 2) let him give me back my $30 and sell it for more. I bought it in good faith and in the end he'll feel better that he honored the sale. I think so, anyway. But I didn't leave anything to chance so I got it out of there this evening. :)