THE GARAGE SALE....

So.. once again... the dreaded garage sale... why do we put ourselves through these things? My life changes from day to day.... about 3 weeks ago, I took a trunk full of stuff to goodwill because I would probably never have a garage sale again. That said.....things change. I was out shopping for furniture with my friend Sherry Bost.....you see, she is having a bridal shower at her home in April... and as every woman knows...the house has to be redecorated! New furniture, paint...etc. So, she called on me for advice... now mind you....I am never short on advice.... so don't ask if you don't want to know my opinion. So, we were shopping..... somehow, I am the one that found a new all~leather black couch.....Randy knew life would be easier on him if he would just give in and buy it for me.... smart Randy! So..... his question to me was.... what are you going to do with the old one? Thus, the garage sale! Then..... we decided to re~decorate the sunroom..... out goes the pink couch with strawberries on it (I will save that story for another blog)! Within the week... I had PLENTY for a garage sale. Ash and I made the usual stop off at the newspaper to place an ad..... Ok.... now you have to understand it has been many, many years since I placed and ad for a garage sale. I am sure I did not pay over 7 dollars for the last one....well.....this time it was almost $28. buckaroos! After the heartattack.... they did tell me they would give me a "garage sale" kit! For that kinda money....they need to come sell my couch themselves!! So, Ash and I were off, proudly carrying our 4 wooden sticks and 4 small posters....... and the planning is moving forward. Where does all the junk come from for one of these things. All the "treasures" that one buys through out the years.... the special things....the money that is put out for these "treasures".... at what point do they become junk? I'll tell you..... its the medias fault.... and the cool magazines fault, they have the nerve to put forth all those ads for new products...that will make our lives fantastic and easier....yes, it is their fault! Well, that said....we progressed to the big day......Amanda, Ashley, Jeffrey and Matt (son in laws)....all pitched in...that is pitched in their "junk" (treasures)too. We could see the dollar signs.....and all of a sudden the junk became valuable treasures.... and yes, we traded some stuff amongst ourselves....as the late friday evening was coming to a close...getting ready for the big saturday morning start of the garage sale.....someone knocked on the door. Now, I must admit a fear rushed through me.....was it a neighbor.....or a family member coming to see if we were getting rid of any past gifts that they had given us.....Thank goodness it was an "unknown"....a complete stranger....yes! But no! I am not ready yet! $$$$$$$ yes I am....she was moving much too fast for my taste.....she bounced from one side of the garage to the other..."how much is this?" $2... I said....she said.....Oh....$1 dollar? No, I said $2!! I think the object of the game was for me to forget how much I told her....... well......$45 dollars later with Jeffrey loading up her truck ....she was off!! Thank goodness...better get a good night sleep so I can handle this type situation in the morning! Alarm rings, 5:45 a.m. ohhhhhh tooo early....this is stupid....why am I putting myself through this thing????? $$$$$$$ of course uggggg! Pull out the couch...pull out the other couch......and..........the other couch...(Matt and Amanda had a couch that they tried to give away.....no takers....so off to the garage sale....btw....it weight atleast 500 lbs!) The computer table.....and the other computer table.............and the most valuable treasures on earth......the misc. junk! By now........Matt had obviously had all he wanted of this garage sale! But much to his dismay.....7:45 first customers......first purchase was his prized suede jacket he had been saving since his first year of high school...$$$$ He decided to look at this situation differently....then some of his wifes old posters..... cool.....his song of the day.." we're in the money.....we're in the money....etc" . Well so far so good.....no one I know has come over YET! You know, it is one of those deals where you want to get rid of this stuff.....but you do not want any of your friends to know it came out of your home...... they might just decide that I am a gross person or something....well heck.....why am I getting rid of it anyway? So I will not be a gross person.... so there..... Yes, it was a fun day.......Matt and Amanda sold their couch for $25 bucks.......(of course the sign started out at $75 so we could mark it down).....the other two couches started out at $200. each.........then $175. then $150....... well... only sold one of those suckers......to a lady whose husband just had rotator cuff surgery......$125!!! Yeah..........I told her that I was blessed with two son in laws that could handle the first class delivery!! Now Matt grumbled..........because I took less and did not charge her a delivery charge.....always the salesman......but like a trooper........he helped his mother in law deliver the couch and carry it in the ladys home....Jeffrey, I am sure, was grateful he was still at work when this took place..... Matt~atleast we did not have to deliver your 500 lb couch!!! I owe ya one! Gran made an appearance and used all of her garage sale skills to try to make some good sales for us.......... she tried hard to sell the pink couch.....thanks Gran for trying..... I really think Gramps would love to have it in his sunroom....:) Success..........we made, together, about $650....not bad for a few hours work!! However, if you add up the retail that we allllll spent on the treasures........I am sure it would have been atleast $500,000..........hmmmm........ no more garage sales for me!!! I have had enough.........I still have the pink couch......... anyone interested? I plan on being very cautious with what I buy.............so I will be never considered gross again............ well..until I find a new couch again.....................Love, Shari P.s. if you noticed someone was missing on during the garage sale.....Randy just happened to be busy with a west texas running club race and then had a 5 hour bike ride and a 1 hour run......somehow, I feel he got the better end of the deal!!!!!