Browser peruses CD’s on sale for $1.00 at the Goldfinger curbside sale. 10/3/20

We werent’ sure how many Grovers would show up today given the enhanced nervousness about catching the virus.  But we were outdoors, about 90% of visitors wore masks, as did we, everyone distanced, and we had sanitizer handy.  No one seemed worried, and our visitors were cheerful, enjoying the chance to socialize a bit and take advantage of all the bargains that Eileen was offering.   We sold CD’s, vinyl records, DVD’s,vintage table clothes, original photographs, books, vintage kitchen tools, and many more items.

We had a steady stream of visitors, but no crowding. We talked about all sorts of topics including the future of Ocean Grove, photography, painting (a local artist showed up), unusual T shirts  (a professor was wearing one extolling the ability of science to solve all problems,) financial impact of the COVID for people out of work, the leopard skin mask worn by one lady, a bike that a woman got for $70.00 at the used bike store in Asbury, the virtues of Blogfinger  (no negatives,) and what to cook in the small fry-pan that a young fellow bought from Eileen.

There were some slow moments, so Eileen went on a wild game hunt in our front yard searching for the elusive yellow butterfly squatting on her orange flowers:

Eileen can’t sit still during our curbside event: October 3, 2020. Paul Goldfinger action photo. OG

Yellow butterfly visits our curbside sale. By Eileen Goldfinger. 10/3/20

Mickey Kush from Heck Avenue, one of our 3 sites said, “We were very satisfied with our sale. All wore masks and were excited to be out in the beautiful weather. People were asking for directions to Clark and Mt. Hermon.  People wanted to know if today was the Town-wide sale.  They wanted to know why there was no Town-wide event.

“Yard salers love the hunt for treasure and not concerned with any minor inconveniences. People had no issues with precautions.”

From Frank Hentz on Clark Avenue, the third of our threesome group of  yard sailors:   ”

This is the sort of event that is necessary in small town America, not the glut-filled tourist-choked extravaganzas that are brought to OG far too often in prime season. We are not Disneyland. We are a town where people live.

And we hope that it will encourage Grovers to carefully venture out and enjoy our town during these troubling times;  while thanking those who are cancelling risky large events which should be avoided.

Since Eileen and I are downsizing, we were glad to find homes for our stuff, and we had a good time talking with our visitors. We even sold our two folding tables so that we wouldn’t  be tempted to  have another “yard sale” again. It is work, and there are new ways to sell things online.

Eileen tells me that downsizing has become a national sport, with many You Tubes instructing people how to organize and sell their stuff.  Facebook Marketplace is said to be good, while Craig’s List has problems, and EBay is a mystery.

One visitor was having good success with a new app called OfferUp.com.  It looks like it would be far superior to NextDoor.  We will try that next.

All our visitors received a free signed photocard of mine from Italy. Someday they will be worth a lot on the black ( and white) market.

Here is a link to see that image, and if you want one to put on your fridge or on a shelf, stop by and we will give you one.

Tuscan Swan photograph.

DOMINIK HAUSER   from the movie Scrooge:   “Thank You Very Much.”