It’s 5:00 a.m. and still pitch black outside. On our way to the car, hubby and I grab coffee to go.
We are heading to one of my favorite monthly estate sales. The doors won’t open until 8:oo a.m., but for me, if you are here later than 6:30 a.m., you are just too late.
We drive into the deserted parking lot and go around behind the warehouse to the area that houses the monthly estate sale. And as usual, we aren’t the first ones here. Two other early birds are already standing in line. I recognize them, they have been coming to this estate sale as long as we have. I’ve yet to be the first to arrive no matter what time I get here. What do these people do, sleep in their cars? Well…..ok, I have thought about it.
Hubby and I get in line and wait for the outer doors to open which will allow us to get inside an outer “porch” area a little earlier than the 8:00 a.m. start time. This area is filled with all kinds of antique and vintage furniture, garden decor, and lots of miscellaneous. This enables us to “shop” this small “holding” area while we wait for the main doors to open.
Once inside the “holding area”, the goal is to get a seat as close to the main door as you can, so that you can be first through and snag the treasure before anyone else can! I’ve only been first through that door one time. I literally stood with my back against that door so that no one could get in front of me, giving everyone the evil eye, daring them to even try to get past me. It worked, but it was very exhausting.
There are always those late comers that break in line no matter what. I’ve been going to this particular sale for a number of years and I’ve come to observe that it is the same people every time. They have almost an entitled air about them. One little Southern lady (I shall call her “Aunt Edna”) always arrives late to this sale, always saunters right to the front, grabs a stool, chair, box, or whatever else is handy, and plants herself right by the door, totally immune to the looks of outrage from other buyers that have been waiting since the crack of dawn.
Nothing and no one stops “Aunt Edna” from sitting right at the main door. It used to really irritate me………ok, let’s be honest, it still does……..but I finally realized that she was there to shop the $1.00 table items…..and I’m not……so we’re cool…..sort of.
So as “Aunt Edna” works her way up to the door, finds her chair, and plants herself by the entrance, I just breathe and smile and grit. my. teeth. Of course, I also have to elbow hubby in the ribs to remind him that he is mumbling unrepeatable things under his breath about Aunt Edna. Where is your Southern charm?!?
Approximately 10 minutes before the doors open, everyone starts standing and slowly inching toward the doors so that by the time they do actually open, you can feel everyone behind you pushing and crowding as close as they can.
I started out this morning third in line, as I go through the door I’m probably number 20!
Everyone is running, or at the very least, walking very quickly to the area that they just know holds the long awaited treasure of their dreams!
It’s rainbows, and puppies, chocolate chip cookies, and the sun shining through the clouds after a storm. It’s fantastic. I love it. I wouldn’t change a thing! It’s part of the thrill of the hunt and finding that special treasure!
I can’t wait to do it all over again!
Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of some of the vintage lovelies that we brought back from this latest trip!
They will be going into the shop in the next few days so come on over to www.EdithandEvelyn.Etsy.com and check us out!
Blessings,
Cindy (and the angels that watch over me, Edith & Evelyn)
Oh do tell, where is this fabulous sale??? I promise I won’t cut in line:)
I know those “aunt Edna’s”. They have been at every estate sale I have ever gone to. Black Friday sales too. My husband boils and has been known to speak up but it does no good. They are very uncivil in their retorts. He has spoken to several businesses though that have interceded and asked folks to get in line…most just shrug their shoulders. Some day I’m going to actually go to the sale of which you speak. I hope to meet you there…but not Aunt Edna.
Hi Cindy, I’ve been following your page on Facebook for a while and always drool over your fantastic finds. I really enjoyed you taking us along on your shopping venture! I can relate and have had similar experiences. That’s really what makes this business so fun… the thrill of finding that special treasure and then sharing it with others.
Have a blessed day.