GARAGE SALES

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As I was driving home from our Sunday morning church service today, and entered my neighborhood, I looked to my right and noticed a house with an open garage, and hundreds of tools, clothes hanging from a rack, wicker furniture, and several bicycles in the yard, and on and about the driveway.

And I decided I would check these items out after I had changed clothes, eaten lunch, and mounted my trusty bicycle for my daily 10 mile ride.

Now, I passed the afore mentioned home and determined to stop on my way back. And true to my decision, I turned my bike into the driveway, and stopped next to four matching men's blue speed bicycles. I waited a moment as the homeowner, and another man conversed about one thing or another.

And now, "Mr. Smith" looked at me and said,

"Can I help you?"

I responded.

"Uh, yeah. How much are your bicycles."

The man appeared momentarily confused, and then smiled.

"Oh, I'm sorry. The bicycles aren't for sale" (and) "I know this looks like a yard sale" (and) "But, I'm just cleaning out my garage."

Of course, I was embarrassed, smiled a crooked smile, waved and took my leave.

Note to self:

In the future, make sure you see a garage sale sign before you make an offer on merchandise scattered around someone's front yard. After all, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it ain't necessarily a duck. (It might not even be a garage sale)."

by Bill McDonald, PhD