Friday afternoon wasn't without its drama; it merely shows that the best laid plans can be overturned by events. Such was Friday. We had it all thought out: sorting, pricing, and displaying the stuff and directing the afternoon's activities. And my! What STUFF we had! Perhaps, thrice, four times more than was accumulated last year.
But, Britt needed to go to ER because of difficulty breathing, so I handed the reins over to the first of the volunteers that afternoon: Jennie Chun. We left the house at 2 and did not get back til 10 PM. Queen's ER was so busy some gurneys were in the hallways. Britt, who didn't seem as sick as those who came in with traumas, was left to wait for hours. Every so often I would go out to the waiting room to check on folks at home. It was no fun captaining by remote control but I am sure it wasn't fun either doing what needed to be done back in the house. The scent of the mock orange filled the Friday night air but the crew flitting back and forth from the garage to the canopies was oblivious to it. They focused on one goal: get stuff displayed for the yard sale for the very next day!
At 10 when we came home, we were greeted by such a wonderful sight from the street: tents up, light bulbs everywhere shining on worker bees coming in and out of the garage sorting, displaying, etc. Lording it over by the big tent was Robert with a straw in his beer bottle... Ahh, the welcome sight is enough to warm anyone’s cockles.
When the last people (Robert and Armie) left around 1 AM, I took over tying up the loose ends, too energized to sleep. So while Britt slept off the excitement of the afternoon, I was puttering around, moving boxes to the curb, displaying 10 million shoes, rearranging this and that... and for the first time since Vi's Adventure Trek and Run last year, I saw sunrise (those who know me know I am not a morning person.)... It was gorgeous and I looked forward a great day at the yard sale!
Jason came by at 7 with his realtor's signs to be set up. (Other signs have already been set up Thursday night.) Then came Nancy and Tammie who started getting busy right away. One after another, the Saturday crew (which was slightly different from Friday's!) came in their grubbies, ready to tackle the day. A steady stream of folks - many who saw Tanya and Kathy's dog and pony show on Channel 4, the Craig's list ads posted by Tanya, and Kathy O's ad in Midweek - was willing to part with their bills for wonderful buys!
We shared potluck dishes throughout the day: Penny's delish kahlua pork and cabbage,
All of our pickled mangoes went!
All of
Ken's "Hawaii ALS" banner beckoned and people came as if in a trance. In the post-lunch lull, my halo-halo lifted crew's spirits and sleepy eyelids. At 2 pm, we were ready to pack up but gave in to an eleventh hour surge from Zippy's morning crew. There was still a bunch of good stuff on the driveway. You couldn’t call them pickings because there was soooo much and they were in fantastic shape ! After the last buyer left, Vi, Daniel and Natalie surprised us with a welcome bucket of KFC chicken to round off the day. Meanwhile Chase started helping mom Tanya put away stuff into the boxes.
All in all, Brad, Paul Mahi and I drove 5 truckloads to Goodwill and Salvation Army in the end, along with the Big Tent's and Ken's City Mill canopy's bags inadvertently stuffed into the load by a too efficient crew!
Around 7 PM, when the last of the trucks came back, we sat under the Big Tent and ate leftovers for dinner. We were tired, dirty, sweaty but happy campers. I asked the fellas under the tent whether we should be doing this again next year: "you bet we will" - was the enthusiastic response. But yes, once a year is enough! As with every experience, we learned there are ways we can do better next time: in sales, in organizing and wrapping up the day.
So what makes for a successful yard sale? First of all, great weather, and no threatening Felicias either to add to the angst. It was such a blessing that Tropical Storm Felicia wimped out early in the week, or else all our plans would have had to be shelved. Of course, there are the dedicated in our group who were our arms and legs, making everything possible, from the time the date was set to the time the last tent was folded and put away. We also have our cheering squad and inspirations in their homes - they are whom we work for. Most of all, our o'hana and members of the community who just pitched in because they believed in our cause. Penny Chun, our resident crafter, made lovely "thank you" note cards which we will send out, with gratitude in our hearts.
All in all, we made...drumroll, please... $1400 and change, including $120 in cash donations. Add that to our balance and we should have about $2000 in the bank, enough to take us through the Christmas holiday planning.
So till next summer again, dear friends, keep recycling, keep those treasures coming and hope to see you at the 4th Hawaii ALS yard sale !
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