Lost knife becomes found treasure

Put it on the list of things I never expected to do as an Airbnb host.

First, let me say, becoming an Airbnb host should be actually No. 1 on the list.

When our beloved neighbor announced last year that she was selling her log cabin and her seven acres, we found ourselves in a bit of a panic.

We begged her to stay. She soberly explained that as a widow with no children, she felt her time on this remote coastal point had come to an end. She wanted to move to the city to be near her sister.

It wasn’t that Husband and I wanted to have the additional property and home. Rather, we didn’t want the wrong person to have it.

Someone who was loud. Someone who wanted to put up 15 houses.

Husband’s math showed if we were to share it, we could financially justify this folly of a purchase.

This is how I became, “Daryn Kagan, Airbnb host.”

Thanks to an awesome crew, I don’t have to clean.

I do the rest: book, give directions to this impossible-to-find place, greet and answer questions.

“The tide comes in from left to right.”

“That bird is called a roseate pink spoonbill.”

“The best restaurant is the fish shack with three different names.”

Yesterday, I added “treasure hunter” to my list of job descriptions.

Four delightful 83-year-olds rented the cabin this last weekend.

They laughed, fished, crabbed, drank, ate, laughed some more.

As seems to be the case with most guests who fall in love with this place, their time here ended too soon. They left and texted me all the way home.

The last text was a bit of panic. “I may have left my crab knife,” Guest wrote. “My mother-in-law gave it to me when I was 18, and she taught me how to crab. It’s about 6” long and does not have a sharp blade. I use it to cut off the crab knuckles.”

I immediately understood the urgency of the search. I discovered the excellent cleaners had stashed it in the cutlery drawer.

As I held it in my hand to snap a picture, I could feel this shank’s immense value. It might not bring even a nickel at a thrift store, but the history and story behind it made it as magnificent as the scepter King Charles held at last week’s coronation. “This it?” I texted the guest. “Yes!! Thank goodness!” she replied.

A niece will soon be by to pick up the knife. Until then, I have it tucked away in a safe place.

I’m thankful for the unexpected lessons and joys this place and this new hosting gig continue to bring. Just like that knife, some might look and not see the value.

For you, too, Dear Reader? Not everyone appreciates what you treasure?

Which is why this opportunity to share with those who do has me marveling at quite the unexpected gift.

What an awesome and unexpected gift.

Daryn Kagan is the author of the book“Hope Possible: A Network News Anchor’s Thoughts On Losing Her Job, Finding Love, A New Career, And My Dog, Always My Dog” and Executive Director of the Just One More Foundation. Email her at Daryn@darynkagan.com.