The Estate Sale... Journey.

The Sale...was Amazing.

Thanks, so Much...to Everyone, concerned.

From Bob, the owner...

who, trusted me...to handle this.

I asked him, one evening, as several us, sat on the Veranda...sipping wine,

what he thought...the first time we met.

{I was laughing. : ) : ) : ) }

I, pull up...into the winding drive...in an area, of Town....that's pretty, uh...exclusive, with the Only...Ford, in our Family....that wasn't limpin'...

The Gypsy.

10 inch Lift...Chrome Stacks... and, not a straight piece of sheet metal....on her body.

The, 'Driver'...was, to him...and his neighbors...equally, 'interesting'. : )

He, didn't say much....when I asked him, his thoughts....but, instead....began to laugh...

and say.... 'Welllll...." Hahaha!

oh...dear. 

So, it was leap of Faith....for Bob. : )

Bob, has spent most of his life....working, and providing...for his family.

He, did a Great Job. : )

Sadly...his world.....fell apart, a couple of years ago...when his wife, left.

He never saw it coming. 

Some, would say... "How can that be? He must have had a clue."

No, he didn't.

Sadly, over my life...I've seen this happen...many times.

I'll talk more, about this, at the end...of this post.

I want to share The Positive...first. : ) <3
Thank You...to All, who Attended! <3
Here's how it all...began.

The phone rang...over a month ago...It was Karen, a realtor, I'd met, while visiting our mutual Friend... Val, years ago.

She asked me if I'd take a look at a Home, she was going to be listing. I, was Happy...to. : )

This, was a Huge...undertaking, yet....I never felt, intimidated by it.

{A 'God'...thing. : ) }

Daughter, Liz....helped. Then...Daughter in Law, Katie... Adam, Mark, and Bud.

Bless Their Hearts! 

Then, pal, Gayle... offered a hand.

She...is a Whirlwind. : )

She is a Master...Tagger!!!

As the days went by.... more and more....Folks, just....out of the Blue...offered help.

<3

Donna, and one of her Friends..... helped with the Clothes, Jewelry... and sewing items.

{Donna, was my 8th grade Home Economics Teacher, 'One'...of three...Favorite Teachers, in my life. She's married to a Dear Friend, that has helped our Kids, over the years....at The Bank. May God Bless them....Both. <3 }

Pal, Bill...was a Godsend. I've known Bill, for 20 years. {Iowa Tag Sales}

He helped with Tables...and Online business. I, don't know what...we would have done...without him.

Brandon, Justin's Best Bud....was also...a Godsend.

He carried... Mountains, from the basement....to the 3rd floor.

He said he lost 8 pounds, in two weeks!

What a Trooper!

Pal, Val...oh my. : )

She came over....and worked her little tail off. She brought tables...and helped 'stage' the House.

<3

Pal, Dale...even brought a Load...of Tables. : )

I, think...we used nearly 30 tables. Oh My!

Bart, Denise...and Lacey....what can I say, about them. 

God Bless 'em...and, their friend, Neva....

They came, and said... "What do ya need? Tell us what to do....and we'll do it!!!"

Have you any Idea...what a Gift, that is. <3

They tagged, and sorted....displayed....

oh...my.

Cindy, and Tom... came...Bless their Hearts, to help with the Books, I...don't know what....

I'd do...without them. <3 <3 <3 They help me...Often!

Normally, I clean the House, Stage it...and price.

I, couldn't do it all....so, Friends, Stanley and Klarika...who are Master... House Cleaners...
 {but were over booked, severely} ...
told me about a Wonderful Gal, who owns Liberty Enterprises Cleaning Services.

Laura.

: )

She, and her Team came in....and went Above, and Beyond.

: )

Then, Laura 'Volunteered'...to come back, and Help...pull things together.

Holy Smokes!!!

Who Does That!

These, are All.... Busy....Busy...People.

<3

yet... out of the Kindness...of Their Hearts... came, and worked....

They, worked... Hard!

oh my.

Some, I paid. but... for what I had quoted... I was running out of funds.

The ones, that 'Volunteered'....made it clear....they wanted No Money.

{they didn't know, my budget...was depleting : ) }

They, just...wanted to 'Help Out'.

But, you see...they all...kinda knew, Bob's Story.

and, they saw him...in action.

Taking such loving Care...of the three Elderly Hounds, that, were...also....

left behind.
{and... The Fish, he cared for...
and...
The Chickens....
all, left....behind.}

Bob, was Amazed...by all of The Kind...People. 

: ) : ) : ) 

I, think...he's still...in shock. 

I, know....how that feels. 

I, think...Everyone...that came to help, knows...how that feels.

It, was...a 'God'...thing.

Here are a few images, of The Crew.

Miss. Scarlett, Pip....Kera, and Nina. <3
Kera, is 15 years old.
She....melted my heart. I, sat...one day, for a little while, with Kera. Bob was in Arizona, taking a load of personal things, to his new home....
 She was missing him, so much. I just...wept....as I doted, on her. <3 : )  I was so Thankful, Bob has her. I worry, about when he loses her.
I, remember, all too well...losing Polly, last year.
When, you've lost...so Much. Losing....the little Angels, that show such Unconditional Love....is, beyond....Heartbreaking.

Bill, {Iowa Tag Sales} Bob, the owner....and Gayle.
<3 <3 <3 

Cindy, and Pip. <3
Cindy....fell in Love, with Pip.
<3
She, was a Godsend.
Cindy, keeps things in line. Bless her Heart.
She, watches out...for me.
What an Angel. <3
I, didn't get a picture, of Tom. He helped Mark, with the Tool area.
Blessings!

Brandon.
What can I Say???
hahahaha!
He's quite a Ham!
but, He's One Heck....of a Worker!
Bless....his Heart!
<3

Daughter, Liz... Miss. Scarlett... and, 'Baby Jack'.
Every time....I went to take Liz's picture, at the House....she had a Fit.
so... I took this, at Supper, after the Sale.
She and Katie... Moved Mountains, on the second floor.
Oh My!

Gayle, Mark....and Cindy.
After a LONG...Day!
They were All...Long...Days.
I don't know how many people...came through, over the 4 days.
but....
The Police were called, because there were so Many Cars....parking Everywhere.
Some Folks, slept in their cars, to be first in line.
We had people lined up....Every Day....to pay.
It, was Crazy.
: )

This is Karen Mathison, from Coldwell Banker Realty.
She, is Amazing!
<3
She brought me Coffee, Every Morning....and, bought Every  'No Parking' Sign....she could get her hands on, to help out....
The Neighbors!
Bless Her Heart!
<3
I visited in length...with one neighbor. Called the City, myself....to see if they would put signs up.
They wouldn't.
One neighbor, came over....and...was soooooo upset.
yet...
I could tell....he was doing Everything in his Power...not...to Explode.
Bless, his heart. : )
I did my Best, to help...with what I could. : )
I, think...he knew it. : )
{but...he still...was on the Verge...of Blowing! }

Laura...
: )
{Liberty Enterprises, Cedar Rapids }
She was such a Gift!
She has a Home, in New Orleans.
She said....Anytime, I want to visit...
The Door, is Open.
<3
{Who Does That!}
What a Sweet Heart! <3

Pal....Val.
<3
She worked her little tail...off. : )
She brought tables....
Sorted...and Cleaned!!!
oh my. <3
She helped me figure out...some of the Staging.
She's been a Friend, for 25 years.
John, adored her.
She...adored...him. <3

Donna.
What a Gift.
I've known her...for 40 years.
<3
I couldn't have imagined...when I was 14 years old, in her class....after eating the muffins, my Best Friend, Debbie, and I made...
using baking soda...
instead of baking powder....
{ick.}
That, we'd have so much Fun...together, 40 years...later. <3
Donna has the Most....Wonderful....Laugh, and....the Most Beautiful...Hair.
It's as soft...as Silk. <3

Katie, and Miss. Meadow.
Miss. Meadow...didn't come help, but... her Brother...Justin, did.
I, don't have a picture...of him....at the sale.
: (
He...is such a Little Helper!
Anything I asked him to do....he was  'Johnny on the Spot'...to help.
<3 <3 <3
Katie, too.
She and Liz....Moved Mountains. <3

 I didn't get pictures, of Bart, Denise...Lacey...or, Neva.

I, thought....I did, but...I can't find them.

: (

There were several other Folk...who helped out, pricing.

I, called on them...and, they were There....

<3

May, God... Bless em.

<3

I've struggled, with this sale, more than most.

I have to be careful...how, I put this all....into words.

There were many nights, I wept....driving Home.

There were many days...I Prayed, driving to it.

With each of these 'sales'...I learn, something.

This one, I learned Much.

I learned...

I hold Women, to Higher Standards.

Daughter, Liz...said..., after I explained my thoughts, to her....

"Mom, You are Sexist."

: )

Yes, I am.
: )

I've seen, much...in my life.

Here's what I Know.

Aunt Bee, was The Strongest Character...on The Andy Griffith Show.

Everyone...Respected, Aunt Bee.

If, she wasn't happy, or her feelings were hurt....

Andy, along...with Everyone else, made sure...she was taken care of.
They Jumped Through Hoops.

She, held The Family, The Most Important Job... 

'Together'.

Hillary Clinton, made a comment, when Bill was running for President, the first time, she wasn't like Tammy Wynette, and wouldn't just... 'stand by her man'. But, That's, Exactly... what she did, a few years later.

I've loved....Tammy Wynette, and her songwriters...my entire life.

I, understood them.

If you think...for a moment, they were weak....: ) You'd be...mistaken.

Women, are Much...Stronger, than Men.

{I'm not picking...on Men. }

I'm saying, Men...can be Hurt, so Deeply....by Women. 

Down...to the Core.

Men, Trust...them.

Women, rule...the Home.

They, 'rule'...Men. 

{most, of the time. }

I, believe.... a Good Woman, takes care of her Family.

They look Up....to her.

Men, Good Men.... depend on them. They Provide, and, ask...for little more...than a Happy Home.

There are some not so good men....that, won't last long...with a Good, Woman.

I, believe...that anyone....who isn't happy, in a relationship, should have the Respect....to go to the One they've shared their Life...and Love...with, and....tell them, first....before they 'walk'.

I, noticed....after thinking about this, day in...and day...out.

The Women, who 'Helped'...at this sale, were like a bunch of Mother Hens. <3

All..

Good...Women.

{They All...are Praying...for Bob. : ) }

Even, Gayle...who was treated, soooo Badly.... by her former, Understood, and has major... compassion...for Bob.

<3

I, never intended....on being married, or...having children.

I, knew....as independent....as I was, and am...I, didn't think, I...could be a good Wife, or Mother.

Then, I met John. <3 and...the Kids...came along. <3

I, don't believe I've been the best... but, I've done...my best.

I watch our Daughters, and Daughter in Laws...

Liz, Katie...Andrea...and Maryjane, They...are Amazing...'Women'.

{They bring tears, to my eyes...when I watch them, with their Families. : ) <3 }

I wasn't always there....

but, I Always...Stood by my Man.

I, Always...will do...Anything, for our Children.

I, never....would have walked away.

Our lives, weren't always perfect.

There were times...when, I'm sure...John and I...both...wanted to 'walk'.

but...

we had too much Respect, for one another.

<3

I, look at my Family.

My Sisters... and, Sister in Law.... Shirley. <3

They, were, and are....such Powerful, Loving... Role Models.

We, This Country...Need, More...of Them.

They... are the Strongest Women, I've ever Known...in my Life.

My Brothers, and Brother in Laws.... 'Know'...and 'Knew' exactly, what I'm talkin' about. 

{They never made the Guys, feel 'less', than a Man. but, The Men, knew....they'd be Lost...without Them. }

So, yes... call me 'Sexist'...all...day...long. 

I, will Always...hold Women, to a Higher...Standard.

Love, to ya....

Barb C.

{I spent many hours with Bob. We had some Heart to Heart...talks.

: )

I told him...to get out to Arizona...

find out, who 'Bob' is.

Take Care, of 'himself'...for once.

: ) 

Don't get married, again... until, he figures out....who, he is.

: )

I, remember...the saying...I found, down the rabbit hole... long...ago, and I painted it, for a sign.

"Be Kind, to Yourself....

and

Others."

: )

It has to be done...in 'that' order. }

The tune, above...is how Bob, and so many other...Wonderful Men, I've known...throughout my life, expected their lives...to be, when they...grew older. 

Bob, told me....he still, loves his former wife.
Sadly...most of them...do.
They, were Devoted.

This, was one of the most difficult posts, I've ever had to write.
The old...Taurus, has pulled in her horns.
: )
If, I ever write a book....
oh....dear.