Laugh

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any, all, or something else altogether

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I recently got back some of my shoes and clothes that I haven't worn since I livd in Africa. Most of which I've had for a very long time.

Some of which moved to Africa with me.

In 1998.

The pragmatic sentimentalist in me has held onto things longer than I probably should have. Beyond them going out of style or wearing thin or not fitting anymore.

But, somewhat begrudgingly, I weeded through my things and pared down.

It's a good thing.

It is.

And for the things I've chosen to keep, I just run the "Does this make me look like a missionary" test first.

So far everything's passed the test.

Even my jean skirt.

Phew.

I did toss my Tevas though.

It was time.

And a matter of public service.

You're welcome.

Feel free to answer any, all, or something else altogether: Are you sentimental? What's your favorite piece of clothing? Do you need to do some spring cleaning? (Even though it's summer...) What's the hardest things for you to get rid of? Why? Is there something you wish a loved one would finally part with? Is it time to clean out your fridge? o_O Have a question for ME?

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the one where i sell the shirt off your back

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The Hodges decided to have a yard sale to help with the purging process before our move to Nashville. This is a first for me. I've never had a yard sale before. I cringe at even the thought of stopping at someone else's. It all just seems so awkward to me. So all week I've been asking stupid questions about how the heck you actually run a garage sale, and the likelihood of people showing up and buying our stuff. It just seemed so beyond me! But I went through my things and added a bunch of stuff to our garage sale pile.

It's been a crazy whirlwind around here, so we really didn't do much of anything to prepare for the sale today. Yesterday Brent put up a listing on Craig's List -- announcing it would start at 8 am---and late last night we went and bought a "garage sale" sign to stick on the corner. We got a bit of a late start this morning and when Tam opened the front door at 8:15 to start bringing things out, there was already a guy standing there waiting. Seriously!? Even though there wasn't a blessed thing out in the front yard yet!? I don't understand this! HA!

As soon as we started carrying things outside, people began showing up in droves. There were suddenly multitudes -- of Biblical proportions! I just kept laughing and shaking my head and exclaiming, "I don't get it! Where are all these people coming from?!" These, apparently, were the professional yard-salers. The ones who scour the local Craig's List listings and show up early for "the good stuff". It was seriously cracking me up.

I jumped right into the spirit of yard-saling. I kept going back inside and scouring the house for more and more things we could sell. "You don't use this, do you?" "What about this?" "Can I get a screwdriver to get this thing off the wall? Tam laughed so hard she almost peed her pants when I came out carrying a large potted plant and plopped it down in the yard with a $5 sticker on it.

Good times.

It's been such an entertaining day. The people-watching has been awesome, made even funnier by our own Mystery Science Theater commentary of course.

It all is still so strange to me. I still don't get it. And it still cracks me the frick up.

Annnnd I'm still wondering if I should make another pass through the house for any last minute items. "Excuse me, Tam. I need that chair..."

What about you? Are you a garage-saler?