GARAGE SALES - RECYCLING AT ITS FINEST

For the past week I have been helping my daughter pack her belongings for a move to another location. Of course the best weather is now upon us after a dreary spring and summer, and we are forced to slave away while watching other people enjoy the many activities a Seattle summer has to offer. All around us folks are boating, dining out on sunlit restaurant terraces, having backyard picnics, soaking up the rays at the beach, and of course, cruising from one garage sale to another, in hopes of finding a million dollar treasure in all the trash. Even the lady across the street, is having one. Luckily my daughter is too busy packing to hit the neighborhood sales or we would have that much more to do. I think it might be safe to say that she has never seen a sign or thrift store she could pass up without a twinge of regret.

Moving takes garage sales and thrift shopping off the table for her and it is a real sacrifice. She is the ultimate collector, buying with an eye to reselling on Etsy. Actually, she really needs her own warehouse/apartment if there is such a thing, in order to display what she has artistically, and get her hands on said items for a quick turnaround. If you were to peek into her window you probably would have one of two reactions. Minimalists would most likely throw up their hands in horror and see only clutter. Collectors, on the other hand would be impressed, finding a tempting array of unusual low brow or objects d’art.

She has a “good eye” and I didn’t realize how special some of her Value Village and garage sale “finds” were until I started packing them. Tiki items of all kinds adorn walls, and fill every nook and cranny. Painted metal angels, statues and unusual religious lighted pictures and statues are tucked here and there. I particularly love her Asian hot air balloon lanterns which float gently in a corner window area, above a fascinating green lamp topped by a red shade. Somehow it works.

Her own photography and paintings of tiki masks take up other wall space providing a peek at the artist she is. The dining table does not see food, but instead houses boxes and boxes of jewelry pieces, old clock parts and other broken bits and pieces that find new life in uniquely designed necklaces and earrings. For example, I am the proud owner of a formerly ordinary locket, antiqued and embellished with a clock face, crystals and a small honeybee which, in terms of jewelry, is a work of art. A side interest is vintage clothing, purses and shoes which fill closets and await a later sale at her store, Remote Luxury, on Etsy. Sadly, like many artists, her day job does not allow for much design time except in the evening, but she is ever hopeful that one day she will turn her hobby into a money making venture.

As I spent the past few days packing, and driving back and forth to a storage unit, passing dozens of garage sale signs on my way, I begin to realize how important these weekend events are to our culture. They are truly the best representation of that old saying, What is one man’s white elephant is another man’s prize. They also have their place in our economy as goods change hands, money is made, and customers leave satisfied. Some folks don’t want to bother with the sale part, but simply donate to charitable institutions like Good Will or Salvation Army. That works too, but somehow the sale on the street seems more exciting and unpredictable. You just have no idea what you will find. This is truly a great recycling adventure that was made in America!

P.S. It's the next day and I noticed that the leftovers from the garage sale across the street were being readied for pick up by a group that will somehow find a use for them. I have lived in this house for seventeen years and just met my neighbor Barb for the first time. It took a garage sale for us to get acquainted! She made some money, had some fun, and pointed out that only a few items had not been sold. Two were tables, and I suggested that she put a sign marked "free" on them and they would probably be snatched up by a passerby. I had just gotten rid of an enormous cat climbing structure that way earlier. But wait, I think I can use that white rolling table with leaves that fold down for our beach place up north. It would be perfect for serving food on the patio yet easy to store. Hmmmm! Maybe with respect to my daughter the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.