Our local library auction is in it's 71st year. It began in a little barn that sat on the side of the road and was the biggest event of the summer. Now, it sits in the back parking lot of the library and spills onto the side lot. It has over a dozen of vendors and tents that donate the money back into the library. And of course, the auction itself. This continues to be the biggest group gathering of the summer. Where local community organizations volunteer their time to work the stands and teens who help with the children's games and crafts.
Before kids, I was never interested in attending the auction. I may have stopped in once or twice over the years, but the mad rush to be the first ones on the grounds, began when my daughter was only 22 months old. When books became her obsession.
But over the years, the interests in books may have changed, but the image is still the same. We arrive with two overly excited children, 20 minutes before they're officially open. Thankfully, the tent with the used books always allows us to start browsing upon arrival. But within minutes, the small stuffed tent begins to quickly fill with other people, who have the same idea, and the summer heat and humidity fills the remaining spaces.
We quickly gather our purchased books and my dad walks them back to the car for safe keeping (one of his many trips throughout the evening). Myself, my mom, and my children walk to the other side, where there is a children's tent and a "junk" tent. My children and mom ravage through boxes of old toys, puzzles, games, and more books. Whereas, I saunter over to the junk tent to rummage through other's past treasures. And over the years, I've acquired my own vintage dinnerware by only obtaining mismatched floral dishes with gold trimmed sides. And this year, I found a large platter, a hummel tea set and a 3 tiered plate set for desserts.
All of my pieces are old, with stories. They may not all be my stories, but they're someone's stories. And throughout the years, someone enjoyed these pieces. I love to imagine what these items have seen or been through. How people sat around a table of some kind, and laughed and celebrated holidays and parties and milestones.
Once our car is loaded up with goodies from the past, after my dad takes his final trip, we wander around for typical greasy fair food. And, we always find a grassy spot to watch the auction unfold.
Before kids, I never realized how important this first week of July would be. I never imagined the library auction would be one of our summer things that had a countdown. But here we are, almost 5 years of religiously attending. And each year, I'm watching the interests and dynamics change. And I know that years from now, this library auction will only be a memory for me. I know I'll eventually walk the grounds myself and singly scavenge through the tents, as I drop my preteen children off on a Friday and Saturday night to hang with their friends.
The memories of my daughter asking to go in and out of all the tents. Or trying on too many pieces of jewelry. Or begging for fresh squeezed lemonade. Or both kids dancing to their own music. Or my son crying on the ground because he was too hungry to walk another step until he ate pizza. Or him getting so excited because he found a storm trooper in one of the boxes. Or simply, the image of stacking countless books by a paper bag and the excitement that was displayed when we took them home. These will all soon be a distant memory, filed away in the back of my brain, stored for a rainy day...
...Just like all the other memories that have accumulated over my years, and the years of all the others who walked through this library auction over the 71 years...
**I published on Sunday, instead of Monday, because my family and I are leaving for our annual camping trip at our local amusement park tomorrow. I will be posting on Instagram, so follow me on there @the_happy_days and the hashtag, thehappydaysvacation.
Thanks! <3
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