By Jim Hagarty
2017
A few years ago, I bought a wonderful 36-inch HD Panasonic tube TV on the Internet for $100. I drove 40 miles to pick it up. The seller and his buddy loaded it in my van. When I got home, two family members and I tried and almost failed to get the darned thing from the van into our garage, it was that heavy and awkward.
The TV was destined for the rec room in the basement. I didn’t dare ask a friend or neighbour to help me move it there as I didn’t want any predictable injuries to these helpers to be on my conscience. Out of options, I hired a mover to do the job. That cost me another $104. Two skinny guys who would blow away in a strong wind showed up and hauled the blasted thing downstairs like they were carrying a big feather cushion.
A couple of years later, I spied a smaller version of the same TV, this one measured 32 inches, in a second-hand store. Perfect for the shed. I plunked down $25 and prepared to haul it home. The store assigned a 75-pound guy who looked like he’d skipped his Grade 4 classes that day to help me. From the store to the van, we dropped the TV once. Somehow, we got it into the vehicle.
Once home, I got a wheelbarrow and with the help of my son, we hauled the thing down our walkway and into the shed. Plugged it in. It worked great and served perfectly the next couple of years. This summer, it became redundant and my son and his buddy moved it into the garage.
“We’re not moving it again,” came the announcement. So there it sat, completely in the way, for the next few months. And I worried about it every day.
Finally, I offered it for free online. There was immediate interest from a couple of people. I warned them it was a monster to move.
A young guy, of normal size, showed up for his prize. I told him I couldn’t help him move it into his van, as I was an ancient person, and that he would have to get a friend.
“Well, let me see,” he said, before picking up this gigantic boat anchor and walking it to his car like he was carrying a baby’s empty carseat.
“Wow, it is a bit heavy,” he remarked.
And as he drove away, I thought to myself, heavy is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.
I hope someday he is available to move the deadweight still sitting in the corner of my rec room. I’d rather torch the house, I think, and hope for some insurance than pay another $104 to move it.
