For some reason Friday’s paper had a less than inspiring yard sale section, so as I made my list, I planned for a short shopping morning.
I’m still looking for a tri-fold screen for my farmer’s market display (I try to envision what I need before I go out) and a few other things for the house (towels) and husband (work t-shirts). While I try to limit what I bring home for myself, I am always looking for treasures for the other members of my family.
After the sister yard sale (and I have to write about that at another time because it was so special) I found a mother who was selling tons of spider man stuff. She told me her son had graduated from Spider Man to Star Wars, and his growth was my fortune. I picked up a Spider Man (from now on we’ll call him S.M. for short) lunch box (.25), a S.M. backpack (.25), two S.M. action figures (.25 each) and S.M. pajamas (1.00). For two dollars (two!) I was about to make my youngest nephew a very happy little boy. (And Mary, if you are reading this, let me tell you what I left there: S.M. sheets, pillow cases, a fleece blanket, and what looked to be a three foot, battery operated, walking and talking Spider Man. You’re welcome.)
My dilemma then becomes, how do I show up with all of this loot for one nephew and nothing for the other brother? You can’t really explain the luck of the draw to little boys, so I thought about keeping all of Henry’s stuff until I could find an equally exciting package for Calvin.
As I drove home, I saw a sign for a sale that was not on my list. I wasn’t totally out of money (my stopping indicator) and it was on my way home, so I decided to check it out. In this instance there was no denying that the yard sale gods were taking matters into their own hands.
The young man at this might-have-missed-it yard sale used to be a sales rep for a fishing tackle company, and he was selling all kinds of fishy stuff. From rods and poppers, to fish clocks and refrigerator magnets, even a hook sharpener and a plastics welder – everything a little boy who loves to fish could possibly want. (Calvin likes fishing the way Henry likes S.M, and I like yard sales; in other words, out of control obsessions.)
His prices were as reasonable as the S.M. prices, so I collected a huge bag of treasures and called my sister. I needed permission to drop by with this much stuff.
Let me just say that the boys went absolutely wild. There was Christmas whooping and Halloween like glee. Clothes were ripped off to accommodate superhero shorts, and tackle boxes were emptied so the shiniest pieces were arranged and rearranged on top.
There is nothing that makes me happier than reworking some of the excess in our community, then watching my nephews dig into a bag of recycled tresures. That little boy exuberance and euphoria is catchy…. I’m still high and that was days ago!
Each Friday night listing and every Saturday morning sale is loaded with potential. For those of you who haven’t tried it yet, wouldn’t you like to be a yard sale hero for a day (I was, I really was!), while recycling and staying out of the mainstream stores? That, to me, is a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.
Happy Saleing!
Tina
