Unless I got rained out, I’m rich today.
Well, rich might be an exaggeration, but I should have a good chunk of change after my big garage sale.
When my mother and dad decided to downsize after 35 years in the same house, some things had to go. And it all went home with me. I couldn’t stand to see her donate her treasures, and I’ve always been the garage-sale queen.
Call me crazy, but I love garage sales.
Most people I know would rather have a root canal than pull out their unwanted stuff, price it and let the public rifle through it.
I call that fun.
My husband and I are a good team. I couldn’t do it without him because I have a policy against doing math before noon, and I’m bad at it, anyway.
I clean out closets and drawers. He sets up the tables, and I arrange the items and price them.
This was the most I’ve ever had stuffed into my garage for a sale, and 90 percent of it wasn’t mine. Our older son moved to Kentucky, too, so he left a few things. I dragged his mattress out on the driveway and sold it earlier to make some room. I also had to take photos of his things and text him, asking, “Keep or sell?”
He said keep the plastic swords from his childhood — sell the dishes.
My older son and daughter-in-law cleaned out, too, and my brother and sister-in-law sent bags of clothes and a few baby items their kids had outgrown.
I questioned my sanity one 100-degree day as I was working in my garage, but here’s why I love to have garage sales:
• It’s nice to see some of my garage-sale regulars. I keep up with them a couple of times a year when they come to my sales. A few years ago, I started going to garage sales as a hobby, i.e., addiction. I stopped cold turkey, but I still purge my stuff by having them from time to time.
• It’s fun to watch people interact with each other. Old friends see each other, hug and catch up.
Sometimes they just stand in my driveway and talk for a while, and that’s fine with me.
• It’s fun to watch the little kids, although this time I didn’t have many toys to sell. My “little” boys are 26 and 23, and the only toys I had were Beanie Babies that I obsessively bought and planned to retire on someday. That idea was as full of beans as the stuffed animals.
• I like knowing some of my favorite things are going to a good home. My dad’s beloved cookbooks will be used by other people to make meals for their families to enjoy.
• It’s funny to see what people buy. There’s a surprise every time I have a sale. The one thing I thought about throwing away might be the first to sell, and the item I could barely stand to part with might be left over — and put right back into my house. The other day when I was pricing the clothes, I decided I still liked one shirt. I wore it to work and got compliments.
• My favorite, favorite part of garage sales, though, is when they’re over. When my husband counts the money and gives me a total, and we box up the leftovers and sweep out the garage, it’s a great feeling. I’ll swear that it’s my final sale, but like childbirth, I’ll forget the pain and decide to do it again someday.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.