Friday, August 03, 2007

Church Yard Sale time



It's that time of year again when I'm totally taken up with our church's yard sale. For the first time in, like, forever, I'm not in charge. I think forever is sixteen years.

I refused to do it. The sale is generally in May. But when no one stepped up to volunteer, and I figured I was home-free. Sigh.

But, a new member finally volunteered to do the sale. She's so new that she'd never even been there when we had the sale. She was totally naive about it. She has two kids and she's in law school. She actually thought it was going to be no big deal.

I couldn't just let her sink. She'd had the courage to try. So I've been working as hard as ever on the sale.

August is too hot for a yard sale. We have it mostly inside which is a good thing. I don't know if shoppers go to yard sales in 90 degree weather or not. I'll find out tomorrow bright and early.

It doesn't feel as bad as it usually does. I'm not in charge, so I feel no pressure about the whole thing. And this woman is sweet, after you get to know her. In fact, she's one of those people who you have to work hard at getting to know, but then it turns out to be worth it.



I think one of the funniest things that happened at the sale (so far) is that a guy named Bruce B. (the daughters will know who) came in to make a donation to the sale. Now, we had already closed the donation period at this point, but no one ever pays any attention to us on times, dates, etc. We're Unitarians. Not afraid of God or nothin'.

But that's not funny, or even unusual. While Bruce was talking at to me there, he decided to donate his canoe to the sale. That Bruce. 'Course, he has no way to get this canoe to church.

So, my husband Niks calls the *little old man that he takes care of, Dave P., and asks if he can use Dave's old beater of a car with a roof rack in order to get this damn nice canoe to the church.

Keep in mind that these three guys are at least 240 years old between them.

Well, Bruce had physical therapy in the morning, Niks had a doctor's appointment and Dave also had physical therapy, so they agreed to meet at Bruce's house at 2:15 PM the next day to get this canoe, which at this point Bruce is calling "beautiful," with tears in his eyes and everything.

Bruce has to lean heavily on a cane, and so does Dave. Niks has Parkinson's Disease and every other thing too. I wish I could have been there to see them messing with this canoe.

Not to worry. Without them knowing it in advance, I had a much younger guy just happen to show up at Bruce's house and help them. That way I don't have to cook for three memorial services and also I get the skinny on what happened.

Mike, the younger guy, told me that the canoe was full of mud when he arrived.

"Bruce said it was beautiful"! I told him.

Mike told me that it was a nice canoe after he hosed it out for an hour. And it was. We priced it at $150.

Y'all should come on over to the church. Good stuff cheap!

* Niks is old. He has lots of physical problems, but he actually does "take care" of an older-than-he-is man, who has even more physical problems. Niks has a heart of gold.

13 comments:

Peter said...

Only $150 for a "beautiful" canoe.... is that home delivered Lucy?

kenju said...

Bless your little pea-picking heart, Lucy! I hope you didn't tell them you sent the younger man...LOL

Cie Cheesemeister said...

I don't know what I'd do with a canoe, but it has such a history it would be worth buying it. However, the story would probably lose a lot when I tried to retell it.

Lila said...

Have any kayaks for sale?

TLP, you'll be in charge of that thing until you're ... running yard sales up in heaven.

Nessa said...

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Logophile said...

I so want to see this canoe!

The Lazy Iguana said...

The canoe will sell. Someone like me will see it, say "WOW just what I need!" and buy it. And then never use it. You might sell the same canoe next year for another $150.

I want a new kayak. But not just any kayak. Ill post a photo of it Sunday.

lime said...

i think niks isn't the only one with a heart of gold if you ask me. just sayin...

Doug The Una said...

It's too bad you can't sell good hearts at the yard sale. I have several to get rid of.

Ariel the Thief said...

what a story! and what a wise woman you are, TLP!

Anonymous said...

I was Unitarian from when I was a wee person until about 12 years ago when all sorts of shit things happened to me. Divorced. Son died. Daughter disowned me. Very ill. Lost Job. Etc.

Now I dont believe in God or anything, and you know what? It feels great!

Minka said...

I had teh pleasure of meeting Niks and after only a few minutes the heart of gold shines through. It had nothing to do with all the chocolate he gave me :)

Glad you are only the Vice President of this yard sale, we all know they just hang anyway ;)

Transmetron said...

Post a free church yard sale classified at http://www.churchyardsale.com Free information on how to have a yard sale or how to host a yard sale.