The Yard Sale Fairy

A while ago, I did a post on "consumerism". I don't even know that that word means. I think it means the belief that owning more stuff will bring happiness. I definitely agree that a belief in "stuff" is wrong and misguided, but I think it is usually used to heap guilt on Americans for being American. I don't agree with that. And, it's very hard to stomach some ultra-cool guy, with the latest ultra-cool brands on his body, typing on his ultra-cool Mac laptop, listening to his ultra-cool iPod, to the latest ultra-cool music, telling me that I am guilty of consumerism. Doesn't fly.

However, we Americans do have too much stuff.

The evidence: Yard Sales

The other day, I drove by about a million yard sales happening down Bellflower Blvd. I actually think yard sales are a healthy way to divest yourself of your junk if you have come to the realization that you have too much, but often, they lead to more junk. I digress - There was a woman on Bellflower Blvd., not a girl mind you, but a grown up woman, dressed as a fairy, advertising her yard sale.

I think the sign said, "I have so much stuff that I am displaying it on my front yard for you to peruse. Please, peruse. My junk is your junk. Take it home, see if it brings you the happiness it once brought me. I'll use your money to buy more junk I can sell to you at a later date. If you have no room for my junk, rent a storage unit. Everybody's doing it."

Tim's dad was addicted to yard sales. I don't know how many ladders and wheelbarrows he bought for us. They were cheap. They cost us to get rid of them, but apparently they were cheap to obtain.

My favorite was a black and white 9" television. "For the girls." He thought we could hook it up in the playhouse.

Think about that.

We are not going to get cable for the playhouse, so they would only have local channels available... in black and white... when they are supposed to be outside PLAYING! Do I want them watching daytime local TV anyways??? Worst $5 he ever spent. Fortunately, it didn't take up too much room in the trash can. (Sorry to those of you who are berating me for the ecological nightmare that is a tv in a landfill.)

So if dancing around like a fairy advertising the fact that you have too much junk is evidence that we are fallen victim to consumerism, well... ok, you got a point.




On a completely unrelated note... thanks, Sharon, for picking up the mirror for me at your neighborhood yard sale. Looks great in my bedroom and I love it! Best $7 I ever spent!