It's almost that time again...

During the spring and summer months, something magical happens.

Yard sale season.

So today (on the first day of spring), I am not thinking of daffodils or Easter eggs.  I am thinking of waking up early on a Saturday morning with my sister-in-law and our friend, getting Dunkin' Donuts, and driving around looking out for signs.  I'm thinking of the fabric, books, DVDs, arts and crafts supplies, and used furniture waiting to be put back out into the world down little neighborhood streets... and I'm thinking of the good deals that will be had by all.

I know a lot of people who think I am nuts for being such an avid yard-saler.  These people claim that yard sales are full of junk or that no matter how hard you wash yard-sale finds, they are never quite clean.  These are also people, and I must be very clear about this, who have never actually stopped at a yard sale.  Because it only takes one yard sale to be convinced that, for the most part, yard salers are normal people.

Don't believe me?  Look around your apartment (house).  Are you hoarding worthless crap that is covered in dust/mud/feces?  You're not?  Neither are 99.9% of the people selling things at yard sales.

Now look around your apartment (house) again.  Do you have something that you have never, once, used (hello, striped plaid plates that we got for our wedding from a distant relative)?  Or do you have something that you used to love, but now you don't really need anymore (hello, mug from the college my brother transferred from)?  Other, normal people do, too.  And they sell those things at yard sales.  Maybe your son just got in to the college my brother transferred from.  Or maybe the plaid plates that I really hate match your kitchen perfectly.  And both the plates and the mug are only fifty cents!

The friends I have that claim (with a fair amount of 'tude, I'll admit) that they could "never" yard sale are the same people that love my red and black vintage oriental rug in the dining nook ($25 at a yard sale, plus $10 to professionally clean it), or my black and white floral shower curtain ($3 at a yard sale, still in its original packaging), or my refinished dresser ($10 at a yard sale, plus sand paper, wood stain, and paint that I had in my basement).  When I tell them the shocking truth-- that my items are genuine-vintage and not Pottery Barn-- they shake their heads and say something like, "You must be more creative than me."  But I swear, I'm not.  It's just that when you only pay $10 for a dresser, you think, "I'm only out $10 if I mess this renovation up," and then it seems more manageable.  And when it comes out really great, it gives you more confidence to try something new in the future.

These same friends are the same people that have a Kindle or Nook, something (and I should be clear about this) I will never buy for myself.  Every Saturday throughout the summer, I spend twenty-five cents for the same books that they are paying $10 for on their eBooks.  If I love a book that I read, I can lend it to a friend... and if I hate it... I'm out twenty-five cents.

So this summer, I encourage you to stop by when a neighborhood is having a yard sale.  Pay the twenty-five cents and buy lemonade or brownies from a cute seven-year old who is saving up for a new bike one quarter at a time.  Look through the used Christmas decorations and collection of unfinished needlepoint for the $1 treasure that you didn't know you needed.  You'll be hooked.

Life is good, God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.