The very first thing I tried to do upon joining the ONE Time Bank was to get my lovely toaster oven fixed. I had a nice, shiny, red toaster oven that did everything right for the first nine months of its life. Then suddenly, as if I had said something extremely offensive to it, it decided to no longer function properly. It refused to heat up, even after long hours of coaxing and massaging. So it sat around my kitchen, and then in my car, for about another nine months until I finally had the wonderful opportunity to possibly get it fixed. The Time Bank had offered me its sole intention - a service I normally could not afford (not to mention - the price for repair probably would have been the same as a brand new toaster oven at Wal-Mart)!
Admittedly, I was a bit nervous when I arrived at my fellow Time Banker's house, but then I thought to myself: "This is indeed Burlington, and this person has indeed taken the time to join a pseudo-communist network of time-dollar exchange, so I probably do not have much to worry about." Needless to say, my assumption was perfectly accurate. We had a great time tearing the oven apart and fidgeting with all its little gadgets. While working, we filled each other in on our past, our present, and our plans for the future. We talked about our jobs or volunteer work, and we laughed a lot. Eventually, the time came to put the toaster oven back together, and the scene could have been taken right out of the latest Hollywood blockbuster comedy. At least three times, we realized that we had mismatching parts, layers overlapping the wrong layers, things sticking through the wrong areas, and windows not able to close. But it was hilarious. And it helped us get to know each other even better.
In the end, we never achieved our original goal - the toaster oven has since been recycled at Small Dog Electronics ($0.25 per pound!!! I highly recommend it!). I'll miss my toaster oven, and I have yet to mention the episode to my stepmother, who bought me the precious gift two years ago. But during my Time Bank experience, I met a new person: a "friendly face" to greet around town, a "future collaborator" for volunteer projects, and just a plain old nice guy.
--Nolan Masterson
