After being mailed from Denver on July 7, then traveling the midsection of America while trying to find Palestine, Texas, Elaine’s eBay purchase—and our patience while trying to reel in an old but working IBM Selectric II—came to an end overnight.

eBay—to their credit—came through with a refund of just over $200.

Honestly, we will probably give up. Elaine said, “I don’t really need it.” And both of us have learned over nearly eight decades apiece that sometimes, when you reach for something and the Universe repeatedly takes it back—going so far as to attempt a Denver delivery—it is best to take the hint, flow like water, and move on.

Still, I hate to admit it: I was actually enjoying the adventure from a lazy summer writer’s perspective. There was always something new going on with it, it made for an easy story, and—saddest of all—lots of us have been there.

OK, I can take the hint, too.

Back with a real ShopTalk Sunday article tomorrow.

~Ure