The first two days were a success, despite rain and hail kicking it off. We made more in those two days than I did while working a 32 hour week in a pizza kitchen, and six times what I made all three days of my first garage sale. As tables grew bare I ran into the house to pull more stuff out of totes, closets, and shelves.
As I sat there through the second day camped out in the garage, freezing my toes off (literally), I wondered: will people notice wool socks in ballet flats? Day three it feels even colder. I'm now rotating flats on the boot dryer, slipping on a nice warm pair when I can no longer feel my toes.
It's funny how each person has a story of why they're here...or why they shouldn't be. One lady proclaimed loudly all the way up the driveway that she had no need in the world to be at a rummage sale. So I commented that I tell myself the same thing every spring. What an ice-breaker! That sentiment was repeated several times over the course of the day by various people. The quest for a deal is quite the addiction.
There are ladies that will never be happy over the prices: "I can't risk a $2 pair of jeans! Even if they are brand new, I'm out if they don't fit him!" Yes, yes, I know. "But the knees are worn, they don't have much use left," on a pair of brand new factory-distressed boy jeans. I refrain from explaining that my husband is laid off work right now. Even to the lady that didn't have 75 cents and hestitated breaking any of her dollar bills..."Well...do you...I hate to...hmm..." I almost gave her the 75 cents out of charity, though over half the stuff I'm selling is only 25 cents. I felt bad and stingy for it later and "gave" away $3 worth of stuff to a couple other people. I hope they don't notice I undercharged them....
And there are funny people who seem to want me to counsel them on whether or not to splurge on something. "I don't really need this but..." "Where would I put this?" "Can this be repainted?" "Would this look appropriate on a Hawaiian vacation?"
And the blatantly obvious: "Oh now, this is cracked right here," "Hmm, well this is missing pieces..." and "Darn, this is stained," --in the "free" boxes.
And the fearless woman who squeezed her way to the back of the garage to try on a shirt while I stood guard....
The man who talked to himself walking all the way here, and leaving, but wouldn't talk to me while he was looking at stuff....
There have been a lot of Grandma's buying stuff for grandkids. One proud granny explained her son lived in Alaska with a Russian wife who was teaching their children Russian. Another was on the hunt for a vintage basketball game she had as a child. And a grandma who had three sons but no daughter, searching for Elmo stuff to bribe her granddaughter to stay with her. There was a guy looking for Super Nintendo games because his girlfriend dumped him and took them all. It's interesting hearing what treasures people are searching for, and there have been plenty of "You don't happen to have any _______?" queries.
There are also plenty of "back of the garage" shoppers. One lady was interested in my kangaroo baby bike seat; several others were interested in the boys' basketball hoop. One lady said she'd come back and buy my desk if I refinished it. Sorry guys, not for sale...yet!
I overheard a couple bikers talking about the "bagel guys" having a monopoly on something in the park...hmm, there must be a bagel vendor set up for the rally, I thought. Mmm, bagels..... Ah, the side effects of hunger. After Eli so kindly brought out some nourishment for me, I realized they had probably said Winnebago, not bagel. I'm really glad I didn't speak up and ask what flavors they had.
There are a lot of memories attached to so many of these things my little guys used as babies...taking their first steps, cutting their first teeth on, and learning to throw a ball. They're just things, I tell myself. Besides, Christmas is coming and they really can't fit into that walker anymore. Harder for me was selling stuff to the new puppy parents who bought baby toys for the pups to chew on.
And the lady who bought the seat cushions painstakingly handsewn by my mama, declaring: "You don't wanna know what I'm going to do with these!" You're right, please don't tell. :)
All in all its been very rewarding, dusting off my social skills and making enough money to pay the bills. It has definitely exceeded my expectations. The majority of what's left over will be donated or given to a family from church who's father is also being laid-off from his job this month.
I've gotten more peace and quiet these last three days sitting out in the garage than I have in the last year, as Eli has helped out greatly by staying inside with the boys. I know it's strange to say, but it'll be bittersweet for me when I have to roll the garage door down in a couple hours.
Back to the hooligans.
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