Tired, Tired, Tired

In what daughter Patricia spouted this week, "this is my final fourteen year annual I'll never do this again sale" and it was two full days of a garage sale and we were only one of the ninety five here in Brookings. Patricia came over to pick me up and stopped along the way to put up signs for the upcoming weekend. It was Friday morning and the moon had not left the sky, clouds scudded by trying to decide whether or not to stay or go as we were followed home by folks in a truck. We told them we were not ready yet, give us ten minutes but they couldn't wait ten minutes, as soon as the garage door was up they were looking around hoping to find a treasure. Well we had treasures, lots of them, beautiful glass pieces, pictures, pitchers, pottery, fishing poles, hundreds of books, and we had worked very hard to make our garage sale look like a antique shop complete with a jewelry case and glass enclosed 'do-hickeys' that housed the real treasures. Well, as long as we were open we might just as well stay open and the traffic was heavy for the entire day. We were going to treat ourselves to dinner out but believe it or not neither of us could move our bodies for want of a hot shower and a comfortable seat in our own chair. We didn't move for the rest of the night.

At six a.m. Patricia was over with the newspaper and chauffeur me to her garage where the remainder of the treasures were waiting to be rearranged. The clouds looked ominous and there was a bit of mist in the air and our spirits went down a peg or two wondering if we were going to have a rainy day. Luck held, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out along with a bit of wind. We opened the garage doors and our annual ladies came to fill up their bags and boxes with special items they will resell in their stores. They told us last year they didn't get to our sale until the end of day and wished they had known about us as 'we were the best in town' . . . well, how's that for developing a reputation? Pretty good eh? They stocked up and said they would come again but will we do this again? Not sure right now as we found a few things we didn't like. Someone helped themselves to one of the nursery rhyme collectibles, another stole a pocket knife. Mid day the 'different folks' come out, those with a complete difference in style and manners. It is down right scary when the moms come with five children all under four and want to push the strollers through the narrow aisles with all that glass. One brought her dog, as Andy Rooney would say, " I love dogs, but they do not have to go everywhere we go." and he is right, I, for one, agree with him. Small dogs and small children do not belong at garage sales filled with breakables.

I am pleased to report that the books sold very well. We must have had fifteen boxes of books, mostly hard-backs and all in good condition. It was nice to have some conversations with the buyers and find out who their favorite author is and what kind of books they liked to read. One young lady about ten picked up a book on birds, it was part of a series, so I gave her an offer she couldn't refuse, the entire set for the price of one. She was tickled, so was her mom, but this young lady is using her brain and it was good to see.

Today, our second day, was just as busy and just as heart warming as the majority of the people who came to see us were truly wonderful. There is always one or two spoil sports who want something for nothing but it didn't spoil our fun. We held fast and let them stew and sold the item they wanted to someone with a smile. We are just good people persons.....and how they respond to a smile. Tired? Exhausted would be a good choice of words. Would we consider doing it one more time? I'm not sure either of us will have the kind of energy needed, but I'm willing to take bets we have it in our minds for ONE more time. I think the next city wide one is in September.

So save your pennies and maybe you can plot and plan a trip this way and you can be a buyer in the cleanest, neatest, best stocked garage sale in the town of Brookings. Think about it and know we would love to sell you a special treasure just because you are you. Have a great day, maybe there is a yard sale in your town. I hope so. Hugs!