Why I Didn't Get The Worm

OK, I'm just a little bit peeved. 

I thought I might go ahead and let 'r rip about it, too. 

I've been doing the garage sale thing this morning. And no, I didn't get what I set out to get. Yet again, the early birds got my worm. That's the reason that I don't do garage sales. I'm too much of a rule follower, you see. Maybe it's an occupational hazard from my years in the classroom, but I like all the little boys and girls to follow the rules. Garage Sale People clearly got a lot of "N's" in that category.

I've yakked about my distaste for early birds before. It's not just about the inconvenience they cause those setting up the sale. It's the rudeness toward other would-be buyers who still believe that rules mean something.  Early birds teach the world that they don't.

Apparently, the world is learning. If you don't know that, you haven't been to a garage sale lately.

Currently, however, I'm in the need want of a set of bookcases so I'm stepping back into Crazy Land to try to find some.

I saw this ad in the local newspaper.

Now, am I illiterate, or does that plainly say, 

No Early Birds? 

Why yes, it does, and that's the kind I like. One can clearly follow the rules and not worry about line cutters and gate crashers with no consideration for fair play. Clearly, I thought, these bookcases were predestined  for Debbie.

So...

I got up early, grabbed some magazines, and ventured over to wait in the car for this nice little No Early Bird  sale to begin.

And do you know what I found when I got there?

Cars lining the street and Garage Sale People headed away from the house, arms laden with  treasure! As you might suspect, one such treasure was the set of bookcases. I never even had a chance.

I asked the owner what had happened, and he said that they were lined up a good hour in advance of the sale.He said he just couldn't keep them out. Personally, I think he could have. The sale was mostly inside.

I probably wouldn't be so peeved if this were not my second such misadventure in a week's time. Last week, it was an estate sale.  They had advertised hours but said that they would be handing out numbers to get into the door early that morning.

I liked their style too.  No pushing, no shoving, no cheating, just a bunch of orderly people waiting in line by the number.  

Since I wanted to get a good number, I got up early and went cup in hand to vie for position. There was a small crowd waiting with me so I got to make some friends, too. At the  appointed time, Willy Wonka stepped out of the Chocolate Factory to give us our golden tickets.

I got #5.

I had just enough time to come home for liquid reinforcement before heading back to be in my #5 position before the sale was set to begin.

I didn't worry when I turned the lane to the estate house and had to park behind dozens of cars lining the street. I didn't even worry when I saw that a line had formed by the door. I was #5 after all. Plus, I had made friends with numbers 1-4, and they weren't there for bookshelves.

I did begin to worry when I discovered that the line was moving. Apparently, they were letting folks in before the official gate time.

Seriously?

I admit it. I ran. I'm not sure, but I think I might have waved my little red ticket in the air and shouted  "Number 5! Number 5!" as I was running.

No one listened of course. They were too busy shoving themselves through the doors ahead of me. Finally, the owner came out, stopped the flow, and asked if anyone out there had a number.

I was the only one who did.

He apologized. Apparently, the Johnny Come Earlies had just opened the door and crashed the gate. Well, why not? Everyone else lets them do it. By the time I got in the door, there were no bookcases to be had.

But wait!

 The cup's half full!

I did manage to get a few other things in my misadventures. 

 They're auditioning for starring roles in upcoming blog posts.

This one will either be called,
 The Twins Go To Washington

or
More Crazy Aunts in the Attic.

We shall see.

You can see that it hasn't been a complete waste of time. I really do believe that if God thinks I need something, I'll find it, and the early birds won't be able to stand in the way. God is bigger than any old early bird.

And apparently, God thinks that what I need around here are a few more whimsical dishes and vintage linens. 

So what about you?

 Do you enjoy the thrill of the garage sale hunt? 

By the way,  if you're an early bird, please don't tell me.

 I'll never know.
But hands off the bookcases, OK?