Rummage Roundup

The first day of rummage today: fall 2006 edition. I was out briefly on sunday and Monday to do a little work on the carts and such. Mary went out yesterday and was in a car accident at the gate, where the "Bridge Out" sign obscures the view of oncoming traffic. Possibly the sorting tent is not yet up; this may make our tasks difficult.

Department Guidelines: a first draft.

New Jersey Monthly plugs the sale.

Was the Whitman story true? I didn't hear it for a few days, but supposedly she came in with a donation. Unfortunately it was a few minutes after one, and our greeter sent her away. Politely but firmly. The next day the alleged former governor returned with her donation, during our legitimate hours.

SALE DAY THREE. Hurricane Kate is off Bermuda. In Far Hills it is temperate and sunny. I arrive just before opening; the traffic picks up just at the corner. I leave the flowers in the Main Barn and go off to Vintage. They are adequately covered so I move on to Toys. I check back in mid-afternoon. At Toys there is a big confrontation between a young customer and the staff; did she pay before shopping? MY testimony doesn't settle the dispute; I remember nothing abbout any transaction. She bursts into hysterics. It is confusing and upsetting and throws me off the rest of the day. We empty the inside room just after three but the staff doesn't realize it should be closed. I lock it. A turns the lights off and men'swear is plunged into darkness. By the time I get back from te count the Sunday Cleanup is mostly done. J and A have put all the hardware into Household; the clothing has all trucked away. The first family goes off to celebrate D's birthday. V has a flat tire and the tow truck comes. I put a lot of china in JE's car.

CLEAN UP MONDAY. Frosty, clear, warming later. I stop at the corner to take down the sale signs. The banner is stiff with frost as I try to roll it. A few others are at work as I arrive. I unlock the barns. W and N are taking the leftovers from Bon Ton to a little rummage sale next weekend. I hash over the dispute again with K and K. Work is stalled when the trucks are full of trash and no dumpster to put it in. Finally it arrives and we all toss the stuff in. it looks full in fifteen minutes, but the front loader taps it down enough to hold all our stuff. Lunch: J arrives with the staff bigwigs. I stand next to her in line but she is subdued. There is a little cut on her finger. W makes me drink soup, since I'm recovering from a cold. She joins me with the Toys group. I take a few pictures as the speeches roll out. The lunch ends and almost everybody disappears. S and C help K do the last minute disposal of barn miscellenia, Electric finally gets their stuff put away, and the green stuff goes inside. D finds a stray dog in the street; the owner claims it. Finally k rolls off. I lock the barns and go home. Later I pull up to a light next to K and PP. We chat through the car windows until the light changes.