October 11, 2003

Last night was so beautiful I had no choice but to hook Tana up and take her out for a walk. I went a little further than I’ve been going, trying to build up gradually. [My exercise video is still collecting dust.] Just down the street I passed a sign that said, “Oct 11 - 6 block yard sale”

Ah, yard sales. I was enthralled with them during the years we lived in Norfolk. My interest was born of necessity, but quickly grew into an obsession. As soon as baseball season was over every summer, I was free to go yard-saleing (or is that yard-sailing?) on Saturdays. Sometimes I went alone, other times I went with friends. While the kids were young they came along. They enjoyed it in the beginning.... the opportunity to get something new. Well, new to them, at least. By the time they were old enough to stay home without me, they gladly begged off the yard sales.

We bought everything imaginable at yard sales, including most of our clothes, lots of books and toys, plants, and even furniture. Every year or so I would have my own yardsale to recirculate the junk and make room for more. The clock I have in my kitchen now came from a yardsale in Norfolk, as well as one of my plants. I’m sure there is more if I thought about it a while.

When I moved to Roanoke, yardsales simply lost their appeal. I don’t know if the people in Hampton Roads have better junk or if I had just finally lost interest.

At any rate, I got up this morning and set out to do the six blocks of yardsales in my neighborhood. After the first two, I was ready to go home. I forced myself to go down one more street to three more sales, then I called it quits.

I bought 2 movies, some sandals, and a beach chair. I lasted about 20 minutes! In Norfolk I would be at it for hours! I’d be sad when it got late and the people started taking their stuff in.

Pitiful.

I can honestly say, the thrill is definitely gone.

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I picked up Mom today and brought her home to spend some time with Chris. Then we went and puttered around Mom’s house for a while. She picked up pears. In the past, she would go pick up the drops and can them. She remembered enough to insist on taking the pears into the house, so I let her. Last year, I found pears hidden all over the house. It was terrible. I would smell rotting pears and search and search for them. Anyway, it pleased her to collect them, so why be a killjoy?

The mums I brought back from Staunton last year are blooming beautifully in the flower boxes. I never did get them all planted and ended up letting part of then die. I’m very happy I was successful with most of them. I think the yellow ones are the prettiest.

We stopped by to talk to Mr. Taylor for a few minutes, then I took her back to Facility.

This was a gorgeous day and I’m glad we got to spend so much time outside.

Josh called me while I was taking Mom back. Apparently the second half of Leah’s tech school will be in Mississippi, so she and Josh will get to see each other often! The AF is also putting her up in a nice hotel on some resort strip, so Josh is looking forward to that aspect of the visits, also. It has been very difficult for them to be apart and having only four hours between them will be a definite blessing.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.