Remembrances

I hope everyone enjoyed their fourth and had a happy and safe holiday.

July fourth is always a bittersweet day for me because my daddy died on this date in 1980.  The first few years were rough to watch and enjoy the fireworks.  Now I use the day as a remembrance day and think of old times.

Every fourth, our daddy would load all seven of us up in the station wagon and we’d drive into town to watch the fireworks at the fairgrounds.  Those were the days of sweat and slapping mosquitoes, as we ooohed and aaahed at the amazing sight overhead.  Each blast was more colorful and bigger than the last one. 

I bet my husband will also look at this holiday as I do from now on.  His ninety-six-year-old dad passed away yesterday morning.  I’m so struck by this and wondering if there’s some deeper meaning there, something I can’t see yet.  After all, what are the odds that this would happen, for our fathers to die on the same day?

When the nurse told my husband Friday that his dad had about two days left because his organs were shutting down, I knew at that moment that he would go on Saturday, July 4.

He’s very lucky he had his dad so long and the man was in good shape and rarely sick, but old age caught up with him and I think he was tired.  We could see a downhill slide from the moment he had to give up his driver’s license six months ago.  Since he couldn’t drive, he sold his big diesel truck shortly after.  His freedom had vanished.  He loved to go to garage sales every Saturday and look around the hardware store.  No longer able to jump in the truck and go, he watched a lot of TV because he’d lost the enthusiasm to tinker on things, which he’d done since I met him more than forty years ago.

He was a good man who lived a healthy, long life and was never judgmental of others.  I’m sure it about killed him to admit he finally needed a cane to steady himself.  Even then, he wouldn’t use it all the time.

I know, when I get that old, if I do, I’ll be the same way.  Somehow, it’s different to know you have a vehicle in the garage that can take you any place you want to go, even if you prefer to stay home most of the time.  It must hurt many older folks to lose that freedom and be dependent on others. 

I wish my daddy had lived so long, but somehow it was meant to be that, at age fifty-five, he would leave this world behind.

My husband will be in another state for a while sorting everything out.  I’ll be a bachelor girl for a couple of months.  We’ll see how things go and what adventures I’ll get into.  Stay tuned.

Yard Sales

I like going to these, but not having one myself.  People are strange where I live and unless you’re practically giving it away, you’re better off to donate your junk or sell it on Craigslist.  That’s certainly better than sitting in the yard for hours waiting for people to come by.

They hold garage sales and yard sales here on Fridays and Saturdays.  It’s a no-no- to hold them on Sundays.  This is the first state I’ve lived in where very little business is conducted on a Sunday.

We did well with yard sales in California, but not here.  Tools and baby items are popular in this state, so you’ll get some lookers if you have those things for sale.  You better be prepared to strike a cheap bargain though, if you want the sale.

Looking at yard and garage sales is a completely different thing.  One man’s trash is another's treasure, as they say.  You never know what you’ll find if you’re willing to take the time.  I especially like the sales if the proceeds are going to a worthy cause.  My neighbor holds a yard sale twice a year to benefit homeless animals and the no-kill shelter where I live.  She does very well because people like giving to the animals when they buy something from her.

Do you frequent garage sales?  Have you ever found a real bargain?