As I write this post I am literally and figuratively surrounded in a sea of stuff. I am trying to sell my Haggled Housewife Life Stuff. I sit outside on my Five Below camping chair drinking lukewarm coffee. I am exhausted and drippy little tears and big droopy tears are falling on my Teacher’s Journal which is slated as my writing tablet which I of course at the last minute rescued from my fifty cent box. While severe thunderstorms are predicated , the sale is slighted for inside and outside. Although in actually the rain is warmly welcomed as physically, Gary and I cannot even continue to lift and transport all of our 14 years of sale items anymore. A weeks worth of lack of sleep and my weight have surely cemented that.
Due to the sale on Saturday…. I missed Cobey’s tournament game which may actually be a good thing because my little son cried and carried on due to the anticipated self inflicted excitement… anticipation…. and expectation …. he places on himself. Despite my “slow and steady” comments …Cobey is crabby. He states his mitt doesn’t fit right, his bat is too big and his cleats are clumsy. Despite my theme song approach…”You are on fire Meyer!” “Whatever happens …happens… ” I assure him. He shouts out the car window “Bye Mom” “I love you” and I am back to writing about this sacrificial sale. ( I am a little resentful..that I have to miss the games this weekend ..due to all this “stuff”.)
Friday, actually marked the first day of the sale and honest to you when I first put out all of my Haggled Housewife Life stuff…I was sick to my stomach. It was so overwhelming to see (now remember) only the items that we aren’t even planning on taking with us. A quick glance around and I was flooded with feelings of remorse, overindulgence, waste and what ifs. For sure my powerful pals – The Three Headed Monster (Could’ve, Would’ve and Should’ve), my friendly friend foe Fred ( singing the wrong song), Silly STAN and of course no other than GUS were all crazy customers. They didn’t buy anything and in actuality neither did alot of other people. Honest to you most people only commented on the magnitude of the holiday hoopla we have. I think one of the bold browsers boasted -”This looks like a holiday hangout.”
Most of the day was spent wheeling and dealing, nickle and diming, swishing and swashing, schmoozing and boozing ( only kidding – NO BOOZE) (Funny to think I am finally going to use the word in the FANCY PROPER WAY – that I have come to love and so do you ….HAGGLING! ( Although truth being ……I didn’t fair well…and I have to hang my head in shame…because of my self proclaimed claim to fame.(shhhhhh…. but truthfully…. I stunk at it.) I am not really tough selling stuff. Although, I did a good job of stuffing myself with three slices of pizza at dunch time (3:00 PM) and watched Cobey again buy all of my friend Sue’s stuff. ( Her son Michael’s bat and baseball. ) $6.00 again out of my pitiful pittance. “Look around”, I snapped at Gary….”Our whole life is on the damn curb”.
I stragically posted around my driveway and front yard big signs…( due to the weather report) to help with the sale. My South of the Border style seems to be back firing. Maybe my Church Creche and 10 ft Halloween Hearse are fighting the purpose. I silently believe customers are thinking…judging….(They are insulting me by offering me a dollar for items that I paid upwards of $50.00 for) They are waging their fingers while tssking) the wasteful indulgence of my pre recession days.
( I know I am…to…..) In an ironic way I feel as if I am selling my soul (Wow…how profound…)..paying the piper…settling the score….laying an egg ( just like the big ostrich I know I am.)
Familiar feelings of my Poomont Book sale plague me as well. Pouring rain, only selling six books. Thank goodness I try to help change lives for a living and do not sell stuff….if not … for sure the play – The Haggled Housewife would be similar to the Willie Loman legacy ( and that of course although a very interesting famous (wink,wink) story is not in actuality the ending I am really looking for the Haggled Housewife (me).
Remembering…. I help write my own story ( I have some real practice from the book) and that I am moving to the TLC House helps me. I am getting too BRAVE, STRONG and SMART to let my writing go any other way. ( Didn’t I say I moved the sale inside due to the threat of severe thunderstorms.) As I wait for every cutthroat customer ….I actually begin going through my stuff today with an easier eye and a happier heart. Piece by piece….. loving looking and reasonable rationalizing with myself ….why we had to have it our life. (My fanny lifter helped me to get skinny , the stuffed chicken Kayla won at the shore and Cobey’s WWF Wrestling belt which he got at the wrestling show…….were all cool useful loved items…. back in the day… but it is a new day…..now…
As I look at all of the stuff I realize it is part of the story of the Haggled Housewife….. Bits and pieces…mementos, impulses and yes for sure over indulgences ( a pirate alarm clock , turkey platter and weather station) … ( or at the time needful necessities) In anticipation for the end of the three day sale today….. (YEAH)!!!!!.I have decided to divide the piles again……. donate…re-purpose…reuse and finally let go…. (Buy my own soul back….per say) (Damn…I am soooooo profound and deep….if only now I could not get my breath not to stink….(LCL).(Allright…no cackle laugh..in actuality wiping away drippy and droopy tears)
We used the stuff…we loved the stuff…we had to have the stuff …… but we really do not need it so much anymore….lets just say the sale symbolizes a bitter sweet… ”new (stuff free) chapter” in my Haggled Housewife Life. ( a stuffer per say)
P.S. I finally did meet face to face with SISSY ( Stay tuned for the whole story)(I have to keep you coming back for more….)
P.S.S – Keep your fingers crossed …we sell our high ticket items today……..we are trying to make enough money to pay for Miss. Bedford.
YOU did it!!! Yeah! I am proud of you.
Yes ……we did! Not as successful as we like but you are right it is behind us..