Accepting Opportunities by Andy Scheer

“Do you want a roll-top desk?” my wife said. “There's one at the neighbor's curbside.”

Sure enough, there it sat. Massive. Oak. Free. And separated into sections my son-in-law and I could carry.

I wasn't looking to replace my writing desk, but the opportunity was too good to pass. With Matt and Erica's help, we carried “The Desk” to our house, then down the stairs to my basement office.

The fit was tight. To clear room, I had to move almost every piece of furniture two or three inches. Then I had to detach all the computer cables and equipment from the old desk.

Assembling the “The Desk” took more work than we imagined: positioning the base sections so the top would align. Hanging shelves and doors. Then inserting sections with multiple drawers and pigeon holes.

Finally, routing all the computer and accessory cables and finding places for all the it

ems stashed in the old desk.

A few days later, I'm still getting used to “The Desk.” Everything isn't yet in place. I know I'll make some adjustments.

That comes with any opportunity.

Still, sitting here makes me feel more like a writer.

Considering the project deadline less than a month away, I'll need that “can-do attitude.

If I'd said no – to the desk or to that assignment – I'd have saved myself a lot of work. But at least for the desk, I'd have closed the door on something better than I'd ever imagined. I hope the same proves true for the writing project.