Not Letting Go!

Hello, My Friends!~~~

There are no photos for this post, only words---you're not going to believe this estate sale experience, but I promise every word of it is true!

Recently I went to an estate sale advertised on Craigslist that was in the back of beyond in Western Maryland. The advertisment promised stuff in the yard and in the house: "vintage, books, full household, priced to sell!" Of course I got there when the sale started. Hubby and me were the first ones there and were greeted by the ladies running the sale: a mother and daughter. Grandmother (who had been 103) had passed away a while ago and the house needed to be emptied for sale. Cool! I was happy to help them in my own little way.

There was nothing in the yard of interest so I went into the house after the daughter eagerly told me that there was lots of stuff in there and for me to look around, "please find what you like", and I would get a good deal on what I wanted to buy.

I encountered a house that looked like people still lived there. The kitchen was in full swing with teen-age children fixing breakfast and a teen-ager lounging cucooned in a NY Yankees blanket on the couch watching Cartoon Network. I had to ask the daughter, who was the mother of these teen agers, "are you sure I can go in?" "Oh, yes!" was her reply.

I headed for a corner bedroom which had boxes of goodies. I rummaged through the boxes finding a few goodies and then turned my attention to a very dusty closet. I saw some bags high on the shelf and used a coat hanger to pull them down. I found some more goodies in the bags and tucked them into the bag I brought to the sale. The daughter came into the room and smiled making a comment about my bag saying "you came prepared!" I asked her a few questions about her dearly departed loved one, as I am genuinely interested to learn about the person who led a life in this dwelling and who had such nice things that I am willing to buy.

After a few more minutes downstairs, I headed upstairs to a walk-in attic which was piled high with boxes. Now, let me stop here and say that other than my dear Hubby, I was the only one shopping at this sale. How lucky! I felt like Frank and Mike from "American Pickers" as I was going through fresh goods with an invitation from the family. My elation was short-lived. From down below I heard a fight.

Mother and daughter were arguing over what was available for sale. Apparently Mother (an older woman of about 75) had not gone through everything in the house. The daughter was telling her that she was the one who wanted to have the estate sale. And on and on. I couldn't keep my mind on looking in boxes because at that moment I felt like an intruder. Hubby came into the attic, eyes wide, and said that more shoppers had come but were all looking outside as the mother told them not to go into the house as they would eventually bring stuff out and it would take them 2 days and maybe the following weekend.

I abandoned the attic and went downstairs only to encounter the daughter who was having a nervous breakdown. I ended up giving her a hug, telling her that clearly as far as her mother was concerned this estate sale was premature. After a few minutes I told her that I found a few things and would I be allowed to buy them. She said "of course," as we stepped outside.

I set my bag on a picnic table and her mother raced over to see what I found. She looked at every single thing, telling incredibly long stories about each item and setting a few items aside saying they were not for sale. This set her daughter over the edge who stuffed everything into my bag, even the goods that her mother said weren't for sale, and gave me a price. I looked nervously at her mother who had just wandered off shaking her head. I have never felt so awkward in all of my life.

Instead of any more conversation, I paid what the daughter asked, bid her "good luck" and headed down the driveway while hearing the mother quote an outrageous price on a Pyrex casserole dish ("that's $30 because it's vintage, you know!") to another shopper.

I have been to a lot of estate sales but never had an experience like that one. I liked what I bought at the sale but it clearly wasn't worth the wack-a-doodle experience!

XXOO, Beth

Comments

[jenny holiday]

Ohhh myyy gosh!!! I just paused our DVRd Celebrity Apprentice to read this to Aaron. Holy Crow! We can toootally imagine being there. Wowzers! What a story!

Thanks for sharing!!

xo Jenny...and Aar

[barbara]

Yikes! I was nervous just reading this! I've been to a few sales where people clearly weren't emotionally ready to sell their stuff, but never quite to this extent. Glad you got out with a few things (and your dignity!)

[laurie magpie ethel]

That is a great story and what an awkward situation to find yourself in! You really truly never know what you will encounter at an estate sale..another reason I love them!

[Into Vintage]

Wack-a-doodle indeed! This is first time I've ever heard of it not being a good thing to be first at en estate sale.

[Musings from Kim K.]

Wow. Seriously awkward and not your own fault! I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must have been.

[Cindy Is Crafty]

Wow! I thought that the sale I went to with the family talking trash about each and every member of it while the sale was going on was pretty bad, but that takes the cake. Sounds like Mom was not ready to let go. I also went to a sale of a girl that recently lost her Mother and had to clean the house out as the landlord wanted to rent it. All the prices were ridiculous. I overheard her saying she would get there late on Sunday and went back. The gentleman she left there was willing to deal as he would be moving it all back to his place if it didn't sell. It is always a sticky situation when the family runs the sales.

[Renee]

While I haven't ever found myself in quite this position I have grown tired of the fighting and shoving at estate sales. So I have resigned myself to my favorite company and visit her sales when ever she has them. You did the right thing and honestly the only thing you could...thanks for sharing...smiles...Renee

[Jewels]

The sad, sad truth is that is probably reflects their relationship from way back when. You were very kind to the daughter B - I would have hightailed it out of there at the first sign of conflict! Looking forward to more stories from the frontline :)...J

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I have been to a sale like that. I was with my best friend and I wouldn't have gone in if it weren't for her. This was a small house owned by a bachelor and he was selling everything with the help of a few of his friends. He was still living there and nothing was priced. It was so weird. I don't remember buying anything. I just remember how uncomfortable we were.

[Cheryl Miller Mosaics]

Oh, how odd, and how sad. Can you imagine what it must be like seeing your "life" being sold off at a yard sale? Someday we may be in the same place. Yikes. I need to get my heart ready for that!