An Organ and a Kia

This isn't really my story to tell, but some things in life are so funny that you have to share. Hopefully I'll get the basic narrative correct, but you'll have to pardon me for any oversights.

My mother had a Hammond Organ. Those of you who are familiar with the instrument know that it's not very large, as in the way of church organs, but it's still an organ and a fairly heavy instrument. It's been sitting in her living room for quite a few years now and she's been asking around to see if anyone is interested. No takers. Finally she decided to list it on Freecycle. (I think that's the correct site. Can't keep all of them straight these days.) About three weeks went by and she heard nothing. As it turned out this wasn't technically correct as apparently people had been emailing but the emails were going into the junk box somewhere. In the interim, one persistent gentleman called stating that he wanted the organ and wasn't sure if it was still available. After some basic discussion, they set up a date and time to come get the instrument.


Fortunately it was one of those days when my brother didn't have much else to do. The gentleman got lost about two or three times on the way to the house. When he finally did show up it was about four o'clock in the afternoon and he pulls up in a Kia. My brother looks around thinking he has a truck or something stashed up the street. Nope, he plans to load the instrument into the Kia. He tells my brother that they'll be able to fit it into his car. Dan looks and says, um, no you won't. The guy insists that they've fit larger items into the vehicle. Deciding to humor the guy they begin trying to shove the organ in the trunk. When that didn't work, they put down the back seat and give it another go. Eventually they opt for shoving it into the backseat ... also unsuccessfully. By this time, I can just imagine what the neighbors were thinking as they tried to shove this thing into the car several different ways.

Finally, the guy looks at Dan and says, "guess we're going to have to roof it." Dan turns around to look at him incredulously and sees that his wife is already crawling on the roof to try it out. She comments on the fact that the roof is buckling a bit under her weight and she's not sure if it will take the organ. The guy replies that the organ weighs less than her and it will be fine. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't imagine how frosty things would be in the car on the way home if my husband dared to state that I weighed more than an organ. Pretty gutsy. Being resigned to the fact that this guy was going to drive away with this organ, and being prepared to leave it at the curb if he didn't, Dan and this rather scrawny fellow begin hoisting it onto the roof while his wife shouts instructions about not scratching up the paint. Dan, at this point, is trying to avoid throwing something out and she's worried about scratching the paint. Sure enough, though, they get the organ up there, strapped on and the guy prepares to drive away. With amazing presence of mind, Dan dashed into the house and grabbed this picture before he drove away. Some things just have to be seen to be believed.