January 12, 2015. 10 hours to go and counting now. It seems like a dream now, but over a year ago I first made eye contact with her.
Actually we met online for the first time. She comes from a German heritage and I first heard her name and the reputation she had so I went online to find out more. Sure enough the hype was true. But could it be true? Others said they were completely satisfied with the way she preformed. Able to be aggressive at one moment and then able to smooth out their faults the next.
Call me obsessive but I began my search and then without any notice I fell upon her. I was in Florida over the holidays and on one of those shopping days for the wife is when I decided to go on my own way. I ended up in Woodcraft in Clearwater. My brother-in-law was with me and when we entered the store there she was! I had to play it cool in front of him and not get too excited. So we separated in the store and I stole away some quiet moment to meet her. I approached her from behind not wanting to startle her. As I got closer I noticed she was a little dusty and obviously had recently been used. Actually she was sitting on top of a bunch of discounted fasteners, off-colour paints and other useless junk off in a dimly lit back corner of the store that really didn't befit her bloodline.
We struck up a conversation and to my amazement she was born in 1982 and was the first of her kind. Incidentally that's the year I married my wife. Strange connection. Anyways as we chatted I learned her founding parents were Fezer and Stoll. Ahh, finally an explanation for her odd name. I didn't know what to make of it always thinking Festering, Festoonery and Festivals but not knowing the real meaning. As we chatted I asked her if I could pick her up and she said that it would be fine. Instantly I felt a connection and wondered how I ever got along without her. My mind rambled with the thoughts of what we could do together.
As I was in this dream state I noticed my brother-in-law rounding the aisle. I quickly put her down but it was too late. He had seen the look in my eye. I quickly had to explain that nothing happened and we were merely talking. He gave me an unapproving look but I knew that he knew, what happens in Woodcraft stays in Woodcraft.
But alas, we had to part.
The next day I returned to Canada. I kept thinking of that chance meeting and how it must have been ordained by some higher power. A couple days passed and I knew I had to do something. So I emailed Chuck at Woodcraft. I had to know if she was still there. To my amazement she was! Still where I left her, unloved and unwanted. I decided there and then that I had to do something.
This could not go on. So I decided to purchase her out of this life of abandonment. To my surprise she had been reduced 35%. Unheard of and just because she had been demo'ed. But there stood an obstacle in my providing a better life for her. Woodcraft would not send her to Canada. But...my brother-in-law was still there and returning in the next day. So I made the arrangements and he would escort her home. Now I'm counting the hours until I have her in my hands again. I've already become a member in the FOG. Next thing is to build a prominent pedestal for her in the workshop. I know we will complete many projects together and I know this is the last ROS I will ever need. My Festool RO 125 FEQ.