An unexpected gift

I chased the rats away so we could rest up before DH got home. It was good to have quiet time for an hour. DH got home and decided he'd take a rain check on supper out. We got take out, gave him his gifts and ate birthday cake.

At about 8:00pm, DH got to talking about the snow thrower his friend at work has. As the cake sat in my gut like a lead weight, DH pulled up the Sears website.

"Don't we have a Sears card? They have no interest financing for 1 year if you use your Sears card. And if we order one tonight before midnight, we can save another $50 off the sale price. I believe that's the same deal Bob got at the end of the season last year."

The last time I remembered using a Sears card I worked for Lands End, 3 years ago. I know I did not have a Sears card in my organizer with a valid expiration date. "Didn't we cancel that card?"

"Could you call?"

It was his birthday, so I called and was surprised to hear we still had an account even though I had no clue where the cards were. She offered to send us new ones, but that meant we wouldn't have the new account number to use online.

"You can go to any store with a valid picture ID and they can look up your account for you until your new cards arrive."

At 8:25p.m. I'm calling Sears to see if they have the snow thrower in stock. At 8:30p.m. DH and DS8 are preparing to race the 17 miles to Sears. My stomach really hurts!!!! Must be the take out and cake right?

I say a prayer because DH pulls out of the driveway with stress written all over him. At 8:58 I get a phone call.

"What's your social security number, hon?"

9:20p.m. I'm shoveling the driveway so DH can back up the van to unload a snow thrower. As my arms ache from yet another day of shoveling, I can't help but think how ironic this is I'm shoveling to make room for a snow thrower!!

We are the customers retail professionals fear. We show up at closing, to buy a snow thrower without the actual plastic credit card, asking for interest free financing and requesting for an additional $50 off for joining the Craftsman club. (3 phone calls, & a manager approval)  We weren't alone. DH said while he was there, 4 other customers bought snow throwers. I think I should bake brownies and send them with a thank you card to the Sears manager and staff. I know for a fact they didn't close on time last night.

So right now, in my garage, sitting in a box is a bonus birthday gift. We had discussed getting a snow thrower previously, but it did happen rather suddenly last night. It was a God thing because everything worked out even though by all rational thought, it shouldn't have. I hope DH can assemble it tonight. They are forecasting 4 more inches.