Last week it began, in earnest, with the Good Samaritan Rummage Sale. An hour and a half in line, my standard positioning, next to bookfairy and another rather intrusive chap and his sister. Bookfairy, retired, hopeful as to some finds, we're chatting and intrusive keeps interrupting, wants to tell us about all his finds, at auction, a set of Birks diamond engagement rings he bought a few weeks ago, he just happens to have them in his pocket, a lucky portion of a job-lot of costume jewelry, I feign interest, he's other stories too, about a lawnmower he bought and...a toolchest...bargained up the price of a motorcycle...he drones on, an hour and a bit, a narrated catalogue of consumer rubbish bought at terrific markdowns, he loves this...
I don't get a word in edgewise, have nothing to contribute to this, just have to make the requisite noises, "Uh-huh" or "yeah" and he continues without pause...
The line grows, the usual suspects, there's easily two hundred people I could be stuck next to, better conversation than talky mctalker, but that's how it goes...
Finally, the doors open, a quick couple of tours, an antique clock, junktique, not working, that's the days treasure. Not worth rolling out of bed for, certainly not worth sitting next to talky mctalker for an hour on a cold bench outdoors...
***
The next day, thrift shops, a garage sale, a few turns around the yard when I spot it. I haven't been practicing, my spidey-senses need to be tuned, but it's a perfect 3', maybe 3'6" new romantic statue of a shepherdess, carved out of peach alabaster, excellent condition, probably dating to the late Victorian period, rare craftsmanship, she resembles a Madonna, the aspect of her face, modest downward glance, but the shepherds boots, book in her hand, purse suggest otherwise...probably a crossover piece carved by some out of work Italian stonemason, the new romantic tradition with Christian subtext...too good to leave, I enquire after the price, "Make an Offer", I hate this, would rather see a price and then dicker, I throw out $15.00 and make the deal for $20.00 ... it's a great find.
Now I didn't particularly mean to bargain so hard, not on such a great piece, but I knew I would be passing it along at a loss, or no appreciable profit, and so this was my justification...I don't have any real need for garden kitsch, no matter the quality or price...
It's heavy, sits in the back of the Jeep until work on Monday wherein I show it to the owner of the restaurant, get my $20 back, although he'd "Prefer if I got one of a stripper...", conceding she's got "nice boobs", and I'm heartbroken that this is the best home I could find it, but I'll know better next time, throw my finds onto Kijiji and show a profit...
***
Yesterday, weekend two and I know better than to bring any finds into work...Start the day at the Confederation Park 50+ center, show up at 7:59, forgot that this one started at 8:00, didn't matter...the line was comparatively short...hit the jewelry, a pair of silver & ebony cufflinks, mens clothing a bust, tour the junk floor, some miscellaneous kitchen/art supplies, two, three, four times around the floor, finding nothing, but there's no rush, the next sale won't start until 9:00...
Find an antique green inkwell... 50 cents, not bad...
...and on the fourth or fifth pass I spot it. There's a lot to take in here, it's overwhelming ...
How I missed it's beyond me, how rusty I've grown, and how lucky I am it was still there. $50, a Jaeger La Coultre "Atmos" Mantle clock, in fine working order...I've looked for one of these forever, and only when you stop looking do you find. Exceptional.
This makes my day, but there are still a few places left on my list, off to the K of C rummage sale a few blocks away...And here I pick up a gate-leg table with 4 chairs, $150.00. It's 8:56 and that completes my day...
A few other trifles, antique edition of T.E. Laurence's "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" - he really did resemble Peter O'Toole, another set of cufflinks, but the day is done...
And there, in one brief hour, all the reasons I both go and have stopped going to garage sales...