My good friends and neighbors invited me to join them in having a yard sale. They also invited his sister and another neighbor to join in so in all we had quite a variety plus a lot of stuff.
We had it all planned that we would set up the night before and be ready for the early bird shoppers the morning of the sale. But Mother Nature decided to play games which meant that we had to rethink our strategy. There were storms predicted with heavy rain, wind and possible hail so we knew that even if we had things under the cover of the carport, things could get blown away or wet so we piled everything into the adjoining garage and decided to get up early the morning of the sale to put everything out.
Thank goodness the weather wasn't as severe as predicted but we still would have had a problem with things getting wet had we set up. So we were to get a good night's sleep since we wouldn't be up watching the weather.
No. First, I couldn't get to sleep. My mind went from thinking about what I had taken over to what remained to be taken in the morning to what else was I forgetting. By the time I was able to go to sleep it was after midnight with the alarm set for 5:30. But the inner alarm went off at 4:30 and I dozed for the next 45 minutes before getting up to shut off the alarm. I was tired but I knew after a couple cups of coffee I would be awake and ready to go.
I fixed my coffee and got dressed. Then it was time to feed the cats, inside and outside. I fixed a thermos of coffee to take with me and filled my insulated cup to take as well. Grabbing a couple of mini donuts, I was ready to gather up what I still needed to take over. I stepped outside to feel the chill in the air from the cool front that moved through, so back inside to get a denim shirt to wear for warmth. Now, I could be on my way.
It was dark as I headed the golf cart loaded with another box and a couple of large items I had delayed in taking over to my neighbors. I could see the light was on in the garage and the gate was open. I turned into the drive and headed for the carport. I greeted two of the sellers as they came out of the house headed for the garage.
We discussed the storm from the night before and the much needed rain we had received while we drank a cup of coffee together. They had fresh donuts but I declined at the time as I wanted to get started setting up. It was after 6 AM and I knew there would be early shoppers out and about as daylight broke.
It didn't take as long as we thought as we moved out tables and unloaded our boxes with our unwanted stuff. Then it was time to look over the other tables and do our own shopping for those items we just felt we had to have and couldn't live without.
It was 7:30 AM when our first shopper arrived and we were still unpacking but had most of it out for the most part. She walked around looking at everything and then walked away without making a purchase. We stood and watched and hoped it wasn't a sign of what the day might bring.
But as the morning wore on, the sun came up on a gorgeous day with a heavenly clear blue sky and a gentle north breeze. And the customers began to arrive, looking and searching for that hidden treasure they just had to have. It wasn't long before the buying began and we watched as our treasures we no longer wanted left to find a new home and make someone happy.
We took turns fixing our sandwiches for our lunch while we waited on the customers who seemed to come in droves and naturally were there while we were trying to have our lunch. After the lunch, the afternoon began to warm and the sleepiness began to sink in. The short night before was taking its toll on us as we joked and moved about to try to ward off the nap time that was plaging us.
We had our moments of complete exhaustion only to be revived by a sudden sale or onslaught of people or even one of our own cracking a joke. We had several moments like that but I think the funniest came about mid afternoon when an gentleman in his mid to late 60's arrived in a bright red convertible. We remarked about the car and he promptly told us that at his age with the gray hair and pot belly he felt he needed something to keep him young.
Two of my friends and I went to look at the car a little closer and he mentioned that there was room for three of us if we wanted a ride. We laughed and thanked him but told him we had to stay there due to the sale. But it gave us the giggles thinking that he was trying to pick us up. Now, most people wouldn't think to much of it, but my two friends and myself are in our late 60's and early 70's so it was a compliment to our egos and I'm sure it was to the gentleman who offered us the ride as we oogled over his car.
Later as I told my daughter about the incident, she jokingly said, "Do I need to have a chaperone for you?" But even she thougth it was funny.
So even though the day has been long after that short night and I'm fighting off the sleep that is insisting on coming, I have had a wonderful day with good friends and laughs and meeting and talking with new people. So I will sleep tonight and be up early to do it all again tomorrow.
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