Estate Sale
John and I worked an estate sale this weekend. It was a home out in the boonies about an hour outside of Houston. I have been to many estate sales, but I have never officially worked one. John has, but not me. I was in charge of the kitchen which stinks because I hate the kitchen. I do not cook and have no interest in cooking utensils. The person had tons of mugs, mismatched glasses, pots & pans of all sizes, and more Tupperware than any human being could ever use in a lifetime. When I finished in the kitchen, I helped tag items with prices. At 3 pm, there was a preview for regular customers. The sale itself was not open to the public until the next morning. There were a few storage barns outside filled with tools and machinery. John was in charge of those buildings. My main job was to sell a car. I sold it to the first person that looked at it. Turns out that cars are one of the first things to go in an estate sale. This is especially true if the owner was elderly with the presumption that they were well taken care of and not driven much. There was a 1970 Camaro in the garage that belonged to the son (who is in his 50s). Everyone wanted to buy it, especially John, but it was not for sale. Once my main job was over, I just walked around the house making sure everything was ok. It was great people watching. Some folks shopped for over 3 hours. My favorite was a lady who kept saying, "sweet Jesus of the sorrows" everytime she found something good. She was a hippie type who bought all sorts of psychedelic records. She claimed to have known several of the band members. I showed her some Bob Dylan albums, but she told me, "I hate that man. You have to be deaf to listen to that raspy voice."
I bought a few photos at the sale. We crossed this bridge to get to the house. It was interesting to see the home and the people that lived in it through old snapshots. The house had a very sad, empty feeling while we were there, but the photos proved that there were happier times.
It was kind of weird going through a stranger's things. Can you imagine passing away and having someone who does not know you go through your items? What will they assume of your life based on what you left behind?
posted by swapatorium @ 11:04 AM
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Stephanie and I are pretty friendly with some of the people that run the estate sales around Sacramento. When one of the ladies found out that I was laid off from my old job, she asked if I would like to make a few bucks and help her at some sales.
Like you said, it is interesting to see the other side of things. To see the "regulars" waiting outside, cherishing their numbers, and when the door opens, seeing them sprint through the house putting their decals on the items they want to buy. Only thing I didn't like, was that I was not allowed to buy anything while I worked.
We have a lady here that does something like that. The Thursday night before the sale is listed in the paper, the regulars get an email notice. And she really does a nice thing of putting out all kinds of finger foods, juices, sodas, and snack cakes.
"Can you imagine passing away and having someone who does not know you go through your items? What will they assume of your life based on what you left behind?"
Not only that, but think of having someone price the items that you collected over the years, and trying to determine each of those items' values. Like, I know the pastic statue of the Nike I bought in Greece only cost about $2 but it's personal value is far greater, and then some stranger is gonna take it home on the last day for 75% off the original price because that's the only way it would sell.
Depressing, but true. Why do we collect these things, anyway, if we know we can't take them with us? I'd like to think of myself as not so material, but all my little things give me great confort.
Mike, that stinks that you were not able to buy anything. That should be one of the perks of having to work. I guess if there was something really good, you could always have Steph come buy it? It is an interesting experience. The previews here don't have finger foods. That's a nice touch.
Brit, the way I see it, you should be surrounded by people and things you love. If collecting things makes you happy, collect away. Who says you can't take it with you? I plan on being buried with all my stuff in a large tomb like the Egyptians. ;D
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