Tag: garage sale

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

This yard sale was a bust

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Saturday’s garage sale was a bust. Seven people stopped by. Two bought stuff. I made $12.

That’s why I’ll only sit out there for a few hours. No two day eight-hour marathons for me. I put it out on social media and a few roadside stands, but it just wasn’t happening.

The first lady who stopped by walked up and asked, “Are you selling any patio furniture?” I choked back a chuckle, looked at the tables of toys, lamps, and kitchen stuff before answering, “No.” Where did she think we were hiding those items?

The second couple was very friendly. As the woman looked over the toys for sale, she said, “Our youngest just moved out.”

I asked, “How many children do you have?” The husband held up four fingers. I followed up with, “Any grandchildren?”

She answered, “No, and we probably won’t. Two have already had vasectomies.” I thought, “Okay, too much information.” They looked very surprised when I told them I had ten grandchildren.

They didn’t buy anything.

My next customers were a mother and son who drove up in a silver Mercedes. I didn’t quite recognize their language, so I asked where they were from. Haiti. They had a lot to say to each other about the items we were selling. He brought a couple of table lamps over for me to plug in. He set them aside to buy, but she put them back on the table. She had him hold up some room-darkening curtains and held up four fingers, trying to talk me down from $20 for two complete sets. I held up ten fingers. She frowned and shook her head.

She had me plug in a hair straightener. It worked just fine, although she really didn’t have the hair to use it on. She put it aside as if she might buy it. She added three glass vases and a dozen plastic storage tubs with lids. The two bickered back and forth, deciding to buy the two lamps, but putting back the straightener.

Finally they were ready to go, adding a small fan and handing me $10. I said, “Merci,” and they drove off.

A young mother was our last customer, gathering up two silicon baking mats and a few toys for a one-year-old still in the car with her husband.

Posted in Food

Lemonade? Yes, please!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

A while ago, I joked with my barber, “The only thing you need cash for anymore is a haircut and drugs.” When I wrote about this, I came up with a list of scenarios where cash makes sense.

But I left one out. The lemonade stand. While walking the dogs (yeah, I know, a lot of life happens walking the dogs) we happened upon a garage sale around the corner from our house. We were excited to see big bags of Legos and other kids toys. Once we got home, we got some cash at the ATM, and headed back, happy that those items hadn’t sold yet.

After I grabbed the two five-pound bags of Legos, a “Lemonade” sign caught my eye. Yes! A young lady was standing at a table behind a bowl of ice and a jug of lemonade. Her eyes lit up when I said, “I’d like a glass of lemonade.”

When she filled a red solo cup with ice, her older brother said, “Whoa, not so much ice!”

“It’s okay; I like a lot of ice!”

After she filled a second cup with ice for my wife, she asked, “Can you help me pour it?” The unopened gallon jug of lemonade was a little much for her to manage, so I filled the two cups and left two dollars in the bowl on the table. She then said, “You need a napkin,” and unfolded a lemon-shaped napkin for me to put my drink on.

I asked, “Did you make this lemonade?”

“No, we bought it at the store.”

As we talked for the next few minutes, I learned that she was five years old and had just finished kindergarten at the school up the street. Her older brother would be in fourth grade next year. their family attended a church just across the street from the backyard.

After a few sips, the young lady asked if I needed more. I said, “Not yet.” But I assured her that the people poking through the garage sale merchandise would see my drink and want some lemonade of their own. She started getting some cups of ice ready just in case.

A few months ago we drove past a corner lemonade stand on the way to my daughter’s house. I so wanted to stop, but had no cash. I said, “I really should keep a few dollars in my wallet.” Either that or let your kids have a QR code on the sign for digital payment.

A lemon-flavored beverage is mentioned in the history of 12th century Egypt. The first lemonade stand was set up in New York City in 1879. I’ll bet kids have been selling it ever since. Believe it or not, some states require a permit to sell lemonade. I would hope that local law enforcement would have more important things to do that shut these down.

My memories are hazy, but I think I had a lemonade stand when I was growing up. If so, mom would have supplied the cups, ice, and lemonade. Pure profit for us!