Estate of Affairs

We are having an Estate Sale. June 8. I thought preparing for the move was crazy.

As good fortune would have it, we have the assistance of Lynn Roberts at AZ Family Estate Sales and Appraisals, LLC. Lynn is my friend. I owe her a debt of gratitude for much more than the gritty job of running a sale at my house.

Actually, this is a tale of two friends. I have to include Stephanie here, she helped a wounded bird fly, as is her nature. She introduced me to Lynn because I like antiques/vintage and Lynn runs an Estate Sale business. Makes perfect sense.  I love the way Stephanie thinks.

Stephanie also helped me "dumpster dive" at the home of my former friend. Was this wrong, I ask?  No, I answer.  Not when the first trash bag was opened and a blue Tiffany box containing a Christmas gift I gave her from years past was at the top of the heap.  This former friend not only abandoned people who loved her, but left for garbage 3 dumpsters full of possessions. As the saying goes, trash became treasure and with Stephanie's help and good humor, retro.ranch.resale was founded in the back of a thrift shop.

Meanwhile, Lynn continued to let me to hang around her weekend estate sales.  I was hooked and she was patient with my questions, opinions and general chatter.  She is a hard worker.  I like examining items and thinking about the stories they silently carry.  That can be problematic when you have 50 years of "stuff" to organize for a sale and two weeks to do it.  Did I mention that Lynn is a hard worker?

One of our conversations led to a decision to become certified appraisers of antiques and residential contents through the International Society of Appraisers. I quickly learned how little I knew and how much I valued Lynn's expertise.  And how much fun I was having.  Maybe someday she will hire me into her successful business.

Now we come full circle.  Both Lynn and Stephanie will be working our Estate Sale this weekend, along with a crew of people whose kindness, support and hard work I greatly appreciate.  Stop by and see them.  I am proud to call them my friends.

Laurie and Lynn, ISA AM Appraisers