PROJECTS Wait Until You See What I Found at a Yard Sale

I was late.

There is nothing extraordinary about that statement.

I’m usually, typically, apologetically late.

But when I saw the yard sale? I couldn’t stop. Remember? I was late.

So I gazed longingly out the window at the yard that was strewn with vintage baskets and furniture and metal lampshades and wood coat hangers and told myself it was impossible. I wanted to stop. My heart was telling me to stop. All ten fingers and toes itched to stop.

But I was late.

So I didn’t.

The car drove right on by.

And in hindsight? That was one of the best decisions I ever made. Because the next day when I saw the yard sale again? They were closing up. Shutting down. Packing it all up and heading out. And if you are a yard saler–you know what that means.

Bargains my friends.

Wonderful, amazing, incredible bargains.

You will NEVER guess what I got.

And you will NEVER guess what I paid for it.

This incredible, amazing, one-of-a-kind, tiny armoire.

Can you see that patina?

Look at those scallops on the bottom of the door.

Look at the detail on the top.

Look at that keyhole.

And in amazing news? IT WAS JUST LYING ON THE CURB.

I leapt from the truck and casually strolled over to the armoire laying on the ground by the curb.

Like I could care less. Like I had all the time in the world.

Like I wasn’t interested in this armoire or how much it cost or if anyone else wanted to buy it.

Perfect yard sale strategy.

And then in the most casual, nonchalant voice I could muster I asked how much the armoire was.

The man running the yard sale walked over with a weary sigh. Maybe it was a rough day at the yard sale. Maybe he thought I looked like a person who might give an armoire a good home. Whatever the reason, the words that came out of his mouth almost made me gasp.

“It’s $10,” he said with a shrug.

I blankly stared at him.

I was speechless. Stunned. Incapable of uttering a word.

$10? Did I hear him correctly?

$10 for this glorious, wonderful little bit of vintage joy?

Had he opened the door?

Had he seen inside?

The little shelves and the metal rod and the metal hanger on the door.

“I’ll take it,” I said without one SECOND of hesitation.

And held myself back from laying down on top of it to declare ownership just in case anyone else overheard this conversation and decided that they needed a $10 armoire, too.