The End of an Era

Sometimes, there are climatic endings to life's chapters. Other times, it seems that they simply fade away. And, oddly enough, there are those occasions when the "real end" has not yet been reached, but it sure feels like it has. Today was one of those days for me.

How many times have you stopped at a garage sale? Or, even just noticed a"Garage Sale" sign as you drive through your neighborhood? Or, if you're like me, continue to be amazed at how much money is spent buying each other's junk?

This garage sale was so much like all the rest, yet it touched me with its uniqueness.

First, this sale was held on Donegal Court in West Linn. That alone makes it somewhat unique in that Donegal Ct. is a very short street. Not that many sales can take place, there.


It was easy to see that this garage sale was being held to prepare for a move, as the owner had sold the house.

The owner told me that he and his wife bought the house in 1977. Wow, that's three decades. Know how many places I have lived since 1977. Me neither -- I lost track a long time ago.

The view from Donegal Court looked like your typical, suburban garage sale.

From the garage, looking out, looked like the typical stuff for sale. Although it was hard to concentrate with the good-looking lady that was keeping an eye on that suspected garage-sale shoplifter!

Once I was able to take my eyes off that slim-looking lady, I started to take a closer look at some of the items for sale...

Do they actually sell TV Trays, anymore? I don't think that I have eaten using one for awhile, but this one seemed familiar. Does anybody recognize it?

The owner told me that his deceased wife made this cookie jar. I wonder how many times a child, grandchild, or other lucky visitor got caught sneaking a chocoloate-chip cookie right out from underneath Sleepy? Bet that happened quite a bit as it looked well used.

Here is something quite sentimental -- a juicer that was bought from an infomercial. For some reason, the owner did not look like a juicer kind of guy, to me. :-)

If you've seen one Nativity scene, you've seen thema all, haven't you? Yet, something about this one was so familiar.

There were items for sale that were inside the house, so I made my way inside...

The refrigerator was not for sale, because it was the holder of what appeared to be some very important documents and photos.

I wasn't sure if Debbie was an only child or if she was simply the spoiled, youngest child of the owner! Since I didn't see any other nameplates, it was difficult to tell.

This fire made me feel very warm, not only becuase of the heat it generated, but the many memories that it caused to race through my mind.

Something about this sofa with its not-for-sale sign made me feel sad....

...but not as sad as the empty dining room. It looked like it needed a table, chairs, and family sitting around it -- enjoying dinner together, topped off with chocolate pudding for desert.

I decided it was time to go out to the backyard...

I heard there was a picnic table for sale. Who would want this thing? Looks like it was used too much by a family that liked to barbeque hamburgers. What in the world is that hanging up on the lattice????

Of course, it's that ol' frog thermometer. Something tells me that lady of the house liked to keep track of the temperature. Not sure if it sold, today.

I have seen these type of lawn statues in hundreds of yards. There is absolutely nothing unique about them, except, perhaps, their age. Yet, seeing them, today, brought tears to my eyes. I usually don't get choked up at garage sales.

There is a good reason why those tears began to flow. I always say, "A house is just a house, people make it a home." However, seeing the items in these pictures, along with the piano coasters, "pudding cups," and other familiar stuff, I could not help but think of the people that inhabited that house -- my Mom and Dad.

Today felt like saying goodbye to thirty years (or more) of memories. I did not like it, but I did not want it to end, either. You know how when you think of the past, you remember so many of the good times and forget the bad? Today, I forgot that Mom had Alzheimer's. That felt good. Very good.

Then, knowing that I needed to leave, I stood out on the deck of 2444 Donegal. I turned from the deer statues and looked toward what used to be a view of Pete's Mountain. Instead, I saw this...


...This awesome portrait of spring in Oregon reminded me that just as surely as winter ends and spring begins, there is always another chapter in life after one comes to an end. I hang onto that thought, because I am so sad that this memorable chapter is nearing completion.