Saturday November 27, 2004

Webster Dr.-Decatur.

After actually completing some necessary errands such as getting my oil changed and having a flat fixed I stumbled across this lone sale near Emory University. In an apartment complex a couple were selling a lot of household items outside their front door. They seemed to be from Eastern Europe so perhaps they were immune to all this “don’t have a yard sale get into the holidays” fuss. Like most apartment sales the picking were light. Among the items scattered about were a thigh master, a baby stroller, a Pioneer amplifier, a child’s car seat, several small kitchen appliances including a blender, a 131 piece auto tool kit that looked like it had never been opened and a spindle of CD-rs that was half empty.
They tell me that everything was lower than marked.
I buy nothing.


High Point Place,-Morningside

In a house on this street with a wonderful view of the CDC buildings over a mile in the distance was a selection of items on the sidewalk and in a small garage. On the sidewalk were some framed jigsaw puzzles and a few classical Cds. Going up the driveway to the garage was a selection of small throw rugs, a cat napper that was still in the box, a salad spinner, a toilet seat, a vacuum cleaner with the bold name “World Vac”, two sets of pumpkin shaped Halloween lights, and a old door. Books included “The Goddess Speaks” and “How to live 365 days a year”.
On the way out I noticed a selection of give a way tote sacks from conferences one was from the Georgia Conference on Children of Cocaine Abusers.
I bought nothing.

St. Charles Ave.-Virginia Highlands

This sale represents more of what I expect to see as the year comes to a close and the temperature continues to drop. Two women clad in heavy coats are standing watch over a few small piles of unneeded possessions outside a two story home. A large sign for this sale sits on a metal easel weighted down by a flatbed scanner to prevent it from being blown over by the cold winds. It proclaims “free boxes”. The boxes are not needed for the purchases for there will not be many. The boxes instead indicate instead that the owners are moving leaving these two women most likely renters in this home to stay behind and sell off some meager belongings. Some of the items littering the front lawn include a two tiered hard boiled egg server and a back pack that holds picnic supplies (I have never seem one of these that was actually used). There is also a large plastic tub with some brushes inside of it. I later hear one of the women remark. “ Is that a beer making kit?” The sellers tell me that the owners of the house are also selling the boxes of beige ceramic tile stacked up on the front steps. I am told they paid $600 for the tile and are now selling it for $50. But no buyers are anywhere in sight. Near the street is a small pile of free items that include a Christmas tree stand, some old slide projector trays and a few bowls.
I bought nothing.


Ridgewood Ave.-Lake Claire

A sign on McLendon directs me down Ridgewood to find three pieces of office furniture in someone’s front yard. There is a sign on the desk that says “for sale”. My urge is to go back to the sign and scribble in “attempted” before the words yard sale. This is a sad harbinger of what is to come in the next six weeks.