Speed Dating

Like speed dating, the Rosies piled into one vehicle and set out for a two hour mega drive -by to check out most of the sales posted for 6/11/11. And a happy carload we were with Hank and his grandma Pat riding in the backseat, Rosie W. riding shotgun and Rosie P. navigating hairpin turns and elusive parking.

We converged upon the “Four roommates selling everything to teach overseas” as our ground zero meeting point (we’d both voted it our favorite ad with the most possibility). Since the sellers had not posted “No Early Birds” we took the chance and arrived a half hour early at 7:30. Not good. Only two of the four roommates were on site, and those two were totally frazzled as we watched them hustle items to the front lawn. Rosie P. immediately scored a few big items (a vintage dresser mirror for $4 and a 1991 Kenwood Stereo System in the glass cabinet with working speakers for $40)On the other hand, I muddled through what was there with a still packaged pulley gizmo catching my eye (me, thinking pulleys and ropes….help with kayak?), only to find out that it was for hanging a deer. Nope!

After having broken my beloved Pyrex measuring cup the night before I took the chance and asked if they had one. Bingo! Not one, but two; a two cup and a four cup both for $3. Ahhh….the karma finally rolling…..

No roses for the sales at Mike’s Seafood. Lots of items, but nothing to brag about, so the four of us trekked onward following circled ads in the Mountain Times as well the “breadcrumbs” of big, colorful, and abundant signs that were like a magic carpet ride to some of the sales.

A dozen “Good Sign” roses go to the sales at University Hills, Green Street, and Bear Trail (but “boo” to parking at Bear Trail). However, the grand prize must go to Nancy Nathan for an excellent print ad as well as the eye catching sign posted on a billboard across from Wendy’s on Hwy. 321.

One basement sale netted a few items for each of us, but the seller remained steadfast about not bargaining for anything. It was strange.

A quick drive by the Doctors Lot found it empty, so we ended the day on Hwy 105 Extension with a group “Naaaaaaaah” at the first sale, only to have Rosie P. do a remarkable “wheelie” to get us into the second sale where we’d eyed furniture, art and clothing. “I see Art, you jump out”, Rosie P. commands me, and I dive into the crowd to take a closer peek.

The clothing was too small, and the art too “Rooms to Go” looking, but Hank’s grandma Pat scored a lovely blue and brown full set of dishes from Pier I . Me, nothing, but I did notice that one of the books for sale was “How To Tell a Naked Man What To Do”….and I have to wonder if anyone purchased that book?

Bye to Hank, Grandma Pat and Rosie P. as they were off to a birthday party, and on my own.

The “lots of Oil of Olay” sale DID have an abundant supply, along with Vidalia Onions, one deer head, and mountains of baby clothes. I leave empty handed and ready to call it quits and head to Goodwill for the day’s finale.

Right there, front and center, like a blue light special, sits a rose colored hookah pipe which sets me back a spell, and I’d just finished asking Logan (we ALL know Logan who works at GW), “who do you think will buy this”? And he shrugs his shoulders and says smiling and shaking his head, you never can tell….” Then, poof, like something out of “I dream of Jeannie”, and sounding like Aunty Mame, a lovely lady slides over to the counter and scoops up the hookah pipe. “I just LOVE this….I love anything artistic….now I don’t USE it….I just love having unusual things in my house….no, no, no, I don’t USE it……”. We chatted for a few minutes, and I left with a smile on my face, nothing in a bag, but the memory of this Grande Dame and her rose colored hookah pipe will remain one of the “keeper” stories when it comes to shopping at Goodwill.