Ronda and Ritaluck

Really. That's exactly how it happened...Ronda went to park the truck, and I JOKINGLY said, "I'll go inside to see if they got your sewing machine in..."

Then, for the first time in her life, Ronda walked into the Salvation Army...

I noticed several sewing machine cabinets. (Ronda walked right past them)

We asked a worker to open the cabinet

This is the look on Ronda's face...as she realized it is THE EXACT SAME MODEL SHE loved and sewed on for 20 years.

She purchased her Kenmore #158 in 1972 when she and Dean were stationed in Alaska. It was the first major purchase she made as a married woman...and she loved, loved, loved that sewing machine. She sewed her daughters look-a-like dresses for Christmas and Easter.  For the next 25 years, it was a workhorse that NEVER let her down.

That moment was magic. It was like she was finding an old friend...

And this particular machine was in PERFECT condition.

Honestly -- there wasn't a scratch on the cabinet,and no wear at all on the sewing machine itself. Everything looked brand new...so the good news was that it like it had NEVER BEEN USED.

 Of course, that's also the bad news.  A machine that has NEVER BEEN USED...but has been sitting inside a cabinet for over 40 years is completely froze up....

Time to get out the oil can, people...!!

Can you guess what we paid?

This is so much fun...

It was $10. Honest.  I'm not making this up....$10!!!

Yes, Ronda -- welcome to my world...