An elderly relative of mine recently moved into a retirement residence and sold her home. As her needs are much less now she left behind many items that have to be disposed of before the new owners move in. I was recruited to sell the “guys stuff”; sporting goods, tools, automotive supplies; at a two day yard sale held at her house. The women were in the house taking care of the bedding, dishes, cups, pots & pans etc. while I had two large tables in the backyard to display my wares.
About mid-afternoon of the second day a car pulled up in front and two couples in about their mid to late sixties got out. One couple went inside to browse while the other proceeded to the back. The husband (I assume they were married) bought several tools. The only purchase the wife made was a bundle of various sized zip ties.
As I had no other customers at the time when they returned to the front of the house I walked with them and I’m glad that I did. The other couple were coming out of the house and when the woman saw the zip ties she grabbed one of the longer ones, held it up and said ‘these make great handcuffs!’
As I get older I have on occasion wondered if TUGging is something I should have grown out of. It seems to be a sport for younger people but even though my participation has faded my passion is still as strong as ever. That comment reaffirmed for me that you are never too old.
My only regret is that I couldn’t get her to come around back to browse; the zip ties were sold but I still had a few pieces of rope and a roll of duct tape left.