My vacuum cleaner quit during the last two weeks. And with two cats shedding all over the place, I needed a new one desperately. I wanted a Dirt Devil Dynamite with a telescoping handle, but it was not to be found in Hermiston, so I was off to find one before my carpets were completely covered with cat hair.

I went first to Target – my daughter tells me you can find most everything there. But not my vacuum. So I picked up a towel rack for the bathroom, something I have needed but forgot to add it to my list. (I make a list for everything.)

Having no luck there, I went to Lowe’s. Struck out again.

I was beginning to get perturbed. But I did need a new mail box; mine fills with water each time it rains, so I bought one.

I dropped by Macy’s thinking it might have a vacuum on the lower level. Nothing there either. I headed upstairs to look for some new clothes for my trip to New York this month. I bought far too many items and carried them out to the car, which was filling up fast.

Surely, JC Penney should have my vacuum. Wrong again. It didn’t carry Dirt Devil at all.

I wasn’t going to leave empty-handed, so I bought more clothes.

Isn’t it funny how you can find everything you don’t need, when you are looking for something you do need?

One more stop and I was going to quit and buy another brand.

Maybe Sears? Voila.

Sears had just what I was looking for, but wouldn’t you know it, the last one had already been sold and employees wouldn’t sell me the floor model.

I finally gave up and ordered the darn thing, which meant I had to go back to the Tri-Cities again in five days, when it arrived.

It’s rather dangerous for me to walk around the mall – I always find something to buy and I really couldn’t afford anymore if I wanted to eat this month.

Nevertheless, I went back to pick up my vacuum a few days later and hurried straight home without shopping.

I was appalled by the amount of cat hair that was extracted from the carpet. I cleaned every day for a week just to get back to normal. I didn’t realize they shed that much.

I should have, because I am always using lint rollers to clean the chairs and I go through four or more big ones each month. I can keep the cats off the furniture when I am around, but not at night.

Just one more thing to do, put up the new mailbox so my mail won’t be sopping wet anymore. I removed the old one, painted the pole brown to match the box, and installed the new box. Now if it doesn’t leak somewhere, we are in business.

Well, my house is clean, my mail is dry, and my wardrobe has grown considerably. Now I’ll plan my trip to New York. Ain’t life grand?

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Betty Kuhn lives in Boardman. She is available via e-mail at bkuhn_1@msn.com