Ganja for an Accordion – A Craigslist Adventure

by Katy on December 11, 2015 · 46 comments

Ganja Accordion

 

I sell frequently on Craigslist, from the kids’ outgrown toys to underpriced Goodwill treasures, to stuff that hasn’t earned its spot in the house. My husband’s old accordion fell under that last category. I bought it for him in 1989 as a gift, and I think I paid $75 for it. Unfortunately, it had been relegated to our damp basement and was not doing well. The case had rotted and the bellows were no longer intact.

However, it was still a beautiful instrument, so I listed it on Craigslist. For $40 at first, and then down to $30 a few weeks later after it attracted zero attention.

And then I received this e-mail:

Hello!!

Do you still have this wonderful accordion?

If so I need this!!!!!!!! I’ve been looking for one forever!

Are you down to trade?
I am a Healer; Reiki master, Minister, Intuitive Counselor, Vegan/health food chef. I can cook for you, clean, do yard work/house work, I can provide guided meditations, shamanic journeys, communication with the other worlds and much more. Also have ganja up for trade. Let me know if you’re down to deal! I literally have zero cash right now, but if you aren’t down to deal let me know and I will bag a friend for a few bucks to get this lovely piece.

 

Keep in mind that I live in Portland, Oregon, subject of the parody TV show Portlandia. Except those of us who live here know that show is no parody. It’s just straight-up direct observation!

I shared this e-mail over at The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group and it. was. a. hit! Not just the offer of “ganja,” (keep in mind that recreational pot is legal in Oregon) but also the offer to “bag a friend” for money.

Bag a friend.

Was it a typo, an autocorrect or was she really going to “bag a friend” for accordion money?! East coasters shared that to them, “bag” meant murder, while others felt there was a sexual connotation. Perhaps ”bag” up some marijuana? Did she mean “beg” or “bug?”

The buyer came by last night to buy the accordion, and I was so excited to meet her in person that I forgot to get clarification. Stupid, stupid, stupid! But I did request a photo together, (and yes, I told her I’d be putting it up on the internet.)

I ended up insisting on cash, as it’s hard to pay my sons’ college tuition with “ganja” or “communication with the other worlds.”

What would you have accepted? The ganja, the shamanic journey or communication with other worlds? Would you have required cash as I did, or would you have taken the pill and jumped down the rabbit hole? I think I missed a very interesting opportunity.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }

Tammy December 11, 2015 at 11:04 am

I wonder if she meant to say that she would “beg a friend for a few bucks”?

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Katy December 11, 2015 at 11:06 am

We’ll never know.

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Beth December 11, 2015 at 11:07 am

I’m no mystic. I’d have contacted Weird Al Yankovich, asked him to sign the thing and upped the price and ‘Sold it on Ebay’

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Betty Winslow December 11, 2015 at 11:20 am

Cash…. and an explanation! LOL

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Marion Graves December 11, 2015 at 11:28 am

Reiki. It can be helpful for aching arthritic joints.

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Katy December 11, 2015 at 11:31 am

I’m too much a concrete thinker to accept it.

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Stephanie December 11, 2015 at 12:01 pm

I had some at the hospital once I was out of the ICU (Reiki is offered along with other things) and it helps. I would have taken yard work since one of my friends is a shaman. Not really my thing but it can’t hurt and pot is medically contraindicated.Cash of course wins.

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Jennifer December 11, 2015 at 2:26 pm

Give your hubby a gift certificate for a guided meditation,lol. My husband would be so pissed if he had to sit through that would be totally funny tho.

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Connie December 11, 2015 at 12:31 pm

You did the right thing 🙂

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Elizabeth December 11, 2015 at 12:50 pm

Ditto what Connie said! 🙂

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Brenda December 11, 2015 at 12:54 pm

I wouldn’t have taken the Ganga but maybe the reiki or a shamanic journey or communication with other worlds. Chances are this kind of thing won’t be offered again and I would take the chance on one of the unusual things- can get cash from selling plenty of other things!

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Jill December 11, 2015 at 1:06 pm

I would have swapped a few home cooked meals! I hate cooking.

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Kim from Philadelphia December 11, 2015 at 1:19 pm

This. Is. So. Great.
Not quite as good as the Goodwill childbirth pictures, but a close second!

I guess she “bagged” a friend for the cash?!
Cash is king, but the vegan meals would have been a close second.

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janine December 11, 2015 at 1:34 pm

I would have taken the house/yard help – but how much would you have received at that low price? A little bit cash is always nice for something you really can’t use. Hard decision

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Ruby December 11, 2015 at 1:34 pm

This made me laugh so hard I nearly fell off the chair. Thank you for sharing the delightfully absurd side of frugal living.

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NMPatricia December 11, 2015 at 1:40 pm

I am sure each one of us would have thought of something different to accept. Since I am done putting my kids through college, I would have liked to accept some vegan meals to see some possibilities.

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livingrichonthecheap December 11, 2015 at 2:17 pm

Definitely cash – your kids are the priority. We would have gotten a similar response here on Vancouver Island although technically pot is not legal here yet (*new Prime Minister making it legal in all of Canada ASAP) but cash is king in my books

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Marilyn December 11, 2015 at 2:31 pm

My motto: Cash is best.

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Lynn D. December 11, 2015 at 4:13 pm

She looks like a sweet girl.

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Vickie December 11, 2015 at 5:43 pm

That’s hilarious! I’m with you though, give me the cash.

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Mariana Cisowska December 11, 2015 at 8:13 pm

These were SO popular in Poland decades ago.. I remember my grandfather had one (and played it each evening) . every time I hear the accordion music my heart literally jumps out!

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Isabel December 11, 2015 at 10:50 pm

Nice to know it has gone to a good home! Think I might have accepted a shamic journey and I thought ganga was that dance! Congratulations on keeping your son’s education a priority in view of all those wonderful offers!

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CharonPDX December 11, 2015 at 11:32 pm

I made it to “I am a Healer; Reiki master, Minister, Intuitive Counselor, Vegan/health food chef.” and immediately went “they’re in Portland.” I mean, I had my suspicions based solely on the title of the post, but that guaranteed it.

Oh, and for those who AREN’T from Portland, our Craigslist is full of pot. There was even an ad for free pot earlier today.

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Jennifer December 12, 2015 at 6:06 am

Where I am from if an ad said free pot a bunch of rednecks would be on the doorstep in seconds.

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Laurie December 13, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Kentucky??? I lived there for a few years….it grew in with the tobacco!

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Rachel December 12, 2015 at 1:48 am

I guess I’m the only one but I think it’s a little mean to post the email she sent you to basically make fun of her and then on top of that to include her picture and put it on facebook and ask people to share so it will go viral. If I were that girl and saw this I would be crushed.

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Katy December 12, 2015 at 2:37 am

I think her e-mail is wonderful.

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Jennifer December 12, 2015 at 6:11 am

I didn’t get the vibe that she was being made fun of myself. Just an example of how diverse and interesting people can be. Bartering is considered cool and on trend. She seems like a beautiful, sweet, young, free spirit to me. She is most likely flattered by the post. I would be!

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tonya parham December 12, 2015 at 8:49 pm

I don’t believe that it was stated she asked that it be shared and the FB group is a closed one that only members of the group can see.

Also, keep in mind that the post says she asked for permission to post it from the young lady.

I understand your sentiment, but I think perhaps your fear that wondering what the “bag a friend” is mocking but I don’t think that’s the case at all. Rather I think there’s a question of if someone who uses the term “ganja” committed a typo or if “bagging a friend” might be something?

In any case, I think you’re a kind and empathic person to worry about the young lady but I don’t think the intent of the post was one that had a negative or cruel spirit to it at all. And, I commend you for standing up for her in a very kind way!

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Connie December 12, 2015 at 1:53 am

Cash!
She sounds so interesting, I wold have offered her a beer to listen to talk to her.
This post has made me smile each time I read it!

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Marrianna December 12, 2015 at 4:51 am

First, I needed to read the blog post to find out what “ganja” was/is. I’m of an age where “pot” was called “pot” and it’s still illegal, except with a Rx, in Arizona. Besides, I didn’t use pot when I was younger. Second, I had not heard of PORTLANDIA so I clicked on the link to check it out. Strange, very strange. As far as trading or cash for the accordian, I admire you for letting her know that cash was the only acceptable option. Also, to me, “bag a friend” meant that she would grab a friend and borrow the cash. Maybe the communication with the otherworld would have been fun, though. Maybe that would be one of those experiences where you had to be there to appreciate it.

To sum up everything I’ve just written, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. Thank you so much for the education and the entertainment on this dark and cold Saturday morning in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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Diane C December 12, 2015 at 9:11 am

Besides murder and sexual conquest, “bag” can also mean complain. As in, “I just saw this awesome accordion, and I really, really want to buy it so I can play it for you at your upcoming wedding, my friend, but I don’t have any cash right now. Can I borrow some money so your I do’s will have just the right Portland vibe?”

Depending on the friend, it might be worth $40 just for the “bagging” to stop. Unless, of course, it wasn’t the complaining kind of bagging she had in mind…

I so loved this post! Thanks, Katy!

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Barb December 12, 2015 at 9:50 am

Well, im In Colorado and eat a pot cookie nightly to help me sleep with my arthritis and im 64. Having said that, I would not buy it on the street.however I would have traded the Reiki, or housecleaning or yard work in a flash. Actually, I trade more than I do cash for my services and my quilting. I belong to three Facebook trade and swap groups. Im gonna write about some of them blog wise here soon.

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tonya parham December 12, 2015 at 10:13 am

I’d go for the ganja or some vegan meals.

What can I say, sometimes, life is meant to be experienced!

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Tracy December 12, 2015 at 11:41 am

I would have so jumped down the rabbit hole. So very interesting…
And I need to watch Portlandia. Why have I not?

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Katy December 12, 2015 at 12:24 pm

S’alright, I don’t watch it either. Too close to home. Literally.

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Melissa December 12, 2015 at 11:54 am

Gotta love the town we live in! So many diverse people, cultures, etc. She was very thoughtful to offer up that many choices— but money always wins 🙂

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WilliamB December 12, 2015 at 7:13 pm

For you, cash was the right choice.

I’m not sure what I would have accepted. Reiki sounds interesting but I think my firm skepticism would block any likely benefits. Maybe the vegan meals? In any case, I would have tried to come up with something because the email is so charming.

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That Other Jean December 13, 2015 at 4:30 am

I would have gone for the vegan cooking or yard work; but my aching, arthritic bones would have appreciated the ganja. It’s not legal in my state, though.

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Marianne December 13, 2015 at 4:53 am

Great story! Made me laugh. 🙂

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Bronwyn December 14, 2015 at 4:08 am

It was very exciting to watch the story unfold, and meet the fascinating accordion seeker from afar. I’m a little sad that the story is over and deep down I think you should embark on a shamanic journey together. It’s meant to be.

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Bronwyn December 14, 2015 at 4:11 am

You must meet her again and go on the shamanic journey. It is meant to be!

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Bethany December 14, 2015 at 8:07 am

This is all pretty funny! I definitely would have required cash but my goodness the options…

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Maggie December 14, 2015 at 9:38 am

I would have been all over help with house cleaning!

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Korinka December 15, 2015 at 4:17 am

“I ended up insisting on cash, as it’s hard to pay my sons’ college tuition with “ganja” or “communication with the other worlds.””

Priceless 😀 You made me laugh so hard! 😀

She looks like a lovely girl 🙂 A guided meditation would be nice 🙂

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Dan December 21, 2015 at 8:25 am

I would have let her give me a Reiki Massage and most likely signed up for more, or, found another item she had to have to trade her for more.

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