Parking at well advertised yard and estate sales can get a little close to being a competitive sport and you’ll find it becomes more interesting when there are those that don’t bother with following rules and etiquette. They’ll just stop willy nilly in the road and jump out terrified that someone may just beat them to that once in a lifetime deal . This happened as I was leaving a sale recently and it caused my rear fender well to come one paint thickness too close to someones mailbox which retaliated by leaving two nasty 15 inch scratches in my paint. This made me wonder if it was unChristian like to pray for Karma in the hope the next passing vehicle nails her car instead of the mail box as it squeezes by …..
The answer came this weekend as we arrived at one of those large metal buildings filled with tools for sale and parked in front of the house next door . Worried that other cars may find it difficult to pass I decided to back up as far as I could and immediately destroyed a mail box post and of course added a few more nasty scratches to my vehicle . I went into the sale to inquire of the owner of the mailbox and confess my sin. Turns out it belongs to the lady holding the sale selling all her recently parted husbands tools and I informed I’ll pick up a new post and have it installed before the mail arrives.
After thanking me profusely for being honest because I could easily have just driven away she informed .
” My husband installed that … I think he put it in cement ”
” I’m sure he did ”
So off to the big box to buy a replacement post and a bag of cement and back I go on a hot morning to discover her husband did indeed put it in cement. In fact so much cement I’ll tempt Karma yet again with more honesty and confess the thought that at that point I was glad the son of a bitch is dead . It was with great pleasure that I met the womans young nephew and his friend who were there to help with the sale of tools. They used shovels and the previous owners Kubota tractor to help me lift the concrete foundation out of the hole and re install the mailbox post.
The price of the post and I slipped the woman payment for the two boys immense efforts before leaving and it turned out a very expensive yard sale in which I left with out purchasing a single item . But I didn’t come out completely empty handed as the two boys came to shake my hand and explain they were a Christian family and were very grateful for what I did …
To be honest a final time …. I hope I never see them again ….
