My brother and sister have been minding the garage sale for two days already. They are old hands at it. Much of what is laid out on tables and in bins and about the yard came from my parents' home. When my sister was preparing it for sale, there was so much to deal with that she just brought it home and tucked it in all her storage spaces - garage, basement, shed and even in her dining room. Sixty years of house-holding reduced to a few hundred boxes. My sister patiently made sure each item was clean, in working order, and properly tagged. Lots of work.
Truthfully, I am completely useless. My sister answers questions, negotiates, and takes the money. My brother helps take stuff to people's cars, then readjusts the merchandise. I sit. And no matter where I sit, I am in the way. Besides, I have to stay out of the sun, and there aren't many places out of the sun. I think I could go get lunch and contribute in that way, but my sister already has stuff in her fridge. Finally, as much as I had promised to help, and as much as I would like to be supportive, I give up. My sister is irritated with my non helpful presence, and I finally tell them I have a few errands to run and will be back at closing to help put stuff away.
I can see the relief on my sister's face. She does think I am incompetent and lazy. I'm not, but when she is micromanaging and nothing I could possibly do would be right, she leaves me no alternative. And I do have things I need to accomplish. So when she starts kavetching and complaining about all the work and how tired she is, I smile and sympathize. I know it doesn't have to be like that, but somehow she prefers it that way. Perhaps it makes her feel like she is needed - and we all do appreciate her efforts. Or it just keeps her busy so she doesn't have to think about Mom and Dad being gone.
Whatever the case, the garage sale was a good success. I congratulate her on a job well done, all the while realizing that there is so much stuff not sold that either she will be able to take a huge tax break from contributing it to Good Will, or her storage areas will be crammed for some time to come. I guess there are benefits to living in an apartment with no storage space.
Truthfully, I am completely useless. My sister answers questions, negotiates, and takes the money. My brother helps take stuff to people's cars, then readjusts the merchandise. I sit. And no matter where I sit, I am in the way. Besides, I have to stay out of the sun, and there aren't many places out of the sun. I think I could go get lunch and contribute in that way, but my sister already has stuff in her fridge. Finally, as much as I had promised to help, and as much as I would like to be supportive, I give up. My sister is irritated with my non helpful presence, and I finally tell them I have a few errands to run and will be back at closing to help put stuff away.
I can see the relief on my sister's face. She does think I am incompetent and lazy. I'm not, but when she is micromanaging and nothing I could possibly do would be right, she leaves me no alternative. And I do have things I need to accomplish. So when she starts kavetching and complaining about all the work and how tired she is, I smile and sympathize. I know it doesn't have to be like that, but somehow she prefers it that way. Perhaps it makes her feel like she is needed - and we all do appreciate her efforts. Or it just keeps her busy so she doesn't have to think about Mom and Dad being gone.
Whatever the case, the garage sale was a good success. I congratulate her on a job well done, all the while realizing that there is so much stuff not sold that either she will be able to take a huge tax break from contributing it to Good Will, or her storage areas will be crammed for some time to come. I guess there are benefits to living in an apartment with no storage space.
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