Sold!

My youngest is a bit of an entrepreneur.  

He wanted to have a garage sale and so – this morning, my husband and I obliged him.  We did not have to wake him up, we did not have to help him set things up.  We did not have to remind him that he needed a float to make change.  We did not need to remind him to greet and thank his potential customers.  He was professional.  He drove an honest bargain.  He did not hesitate.  

When his goods were getting low, though, I thought I might cruise around the house to see what knick-knacks I could help him out with to offer at the sale.  I walked up to the blue vase (the one of such controversy in former posts).  I looked away and found a couple flower pots.  Out they went. 

I looked around again, and spotted the second samovar which Mom had been so disappointed I had found at a sale all on my own.  “Why did you want another samovar?”, she querried almost hurt by the fact that her samovar, brought back from Russia during the Cold War by her brother, was the only one in existance and a precious family heriloom.  

“I thought it was cool, Mom.”, I replied – not knowing the full on-slaught of guilted consequences was about to ensue.  

Out went the second samovar – sold! 

I walked back inside and past the blue vase again.  Oh, what to do with it? It was collecting dust.  I have a photo of it – I have written a post about it – I have old photos with Mom and Dad drinking from it… what’s next.  Down from the shelf it came.  

Out it went.  

“How much do you want for this?” inquired one garage-saler. 

“Well, I have to tell you a story about it before I tell you the price.”, I announced.  And then I launched into my tale of how my Mom loved it and how it had been a gift upon her retirement.  I really did not know the value monetarily – but I know to my mom it was of great sentimental value.  

Lately I have realized that it is okay to have your own sentiments and that it is not important to carry someone else’s value.  The load can become far too heavy over time.  

“So, how much do you want for it?”, she asked again.  

“$2.00”

“Sold!”, I announced.  But don’t forget the story!  

And off they went – and my son was $2.00 richer and I was 200 pounds of sentimental luggage lighter.  

The blue vase – has moved on to a loving home.  

mylinke skadooshnik – or something to that effect

I was shopping at Food Basics the other day and much to my delight I discovered three shopping carts full of ripened bananas.  Food Basics discounts their produce that is older, but still good, instead of throwing it out – bravo!  So – I took a cart full myself thinking I would skin then and freeze them for future muffins and breads.  An older European looking gentleman stopped me and commented, ” You must have a lot of monkeys at your house to feed!.” 

“I certainly do, ” I replied, grinning that my family really are little monkeys at times.

He commented, “my wife would be so pleased for these bananas as she will skin them and freeze them for breads and muffins.”

I said, “Well, that’s what I’m going to do with them. And good for you for looking out for your wife!”

We parted and met again later on in another isle.  He asked, “What is your ethnic origin?”

“Russian.  Why?”

He explained, “You are so friendly to speak to a stranger in a grocery store.  Do you speak Russian?” he asked in Russian. 

Since I had forgotten the word for little in Russian (and know even less) I said, “no Bolshoi – not a lot.”

He offered the word for little (pardon the spelling), “mylinke”. 

I was hit by a most overwhelming memory of my Mom who used to say to me… again… I do not spell Russian.. “mylinke skadushnik!”  I teared up – I had not heard that expression in such a long time… I explained to the gentleman that this was such a wonderful word to me and I explained why. 

We parted – I cashed out while holding back my tears until I was able to reach the silence and privacy of my van where I burst into tears.  Joy?  Likely – what a wonderful memory in such an unlikely place.

So – here’s to Food Basics – the second time that I have connected with my beloved parents in the grocery isles.  Maybe they should consider changing their name to Spiritual Basics? 

Anyhow – that day I brought home much more than groceries!