kethrai's Diaryland Diary

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Song of the Yard Sale--A guideline in 12 steps

My favorite summer sport is yard-saling. My sister and I one day came up with a series of guidelines, which eventually turned into:

Song of the Yard Sale: A guideline in 12 steps

1. Never buy a newspaper to check
things out first--it takes from
the surprise--
the best treasures are those
one comes upon
completely
by serendipity.

2. Brown paper signs lettered with
leftover housepaint are good
likewise ones constructed heavily
of wood--signs on white paper
mean baby toys
and neon ones mean a really
good sale with lots of stuff
or no substance
with loud noise
Choose carefully,
depending on the sign you see.

3. Drive slow and drive safe. When
the folks behind you honk
and snarl,
be sure to smile
and wave.
For you, it is a beautiful day.

4. Always stop for the lemonade sellers,
especially those
over sixty
or under five. For the latter
make a great matter
of counting out your change
and thank them
with grave courtesy.
For those over sixty,
overpay,
thank them, smile,
and go your way. Great karma
is conferred
with every smile paid
for lemonade served.

5. Church rummage sales
are quite a different thing--
best if disorganized, and one can fling
things all over with impunity
but if they are organized,
there is nothing there you want.
Treasures found at rummage sales
are only there
if you have to hunt.

6. You will always find more things
if you look for gifts for others.
Finding gifts ensures
you will succeed--
in whatever gift you yourself
may need.

7. Sales with power tools are good--
they usually have everything else, too.
Sales with exercise equipment are bad--
because that's the
only thing they really
want to get rid of
that they had.

8. Always ask the history
of what it is
you buy. A talisman without history
is like a well that's dry.

9. There's no rush. Walk slow. You'll
see more the more peacefully
you go.

10. Consider even the things
with chips and dings. Time and
character can be better
than shiny new
lack of soul.
Sometimes
it takes a bit of battering
before you can consider
something
completely whole.

11. Always buy a coffemug,
and fill it with flowers along the way.
Surely,
I don't have to say
just why to you--
just do.

12. Say thank you before
you drive away--
they've opened up
their life, discarded, to your stranger eye,
and deserve
the courtesy for courage. Even
if you do not buy,
you go away with more
than you came with. The free stuff
from a yardsale
is always the most important
gift.

7:41 a.m. - 2002-11-23

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