This weekend,Saturday and Sunday, Ron, AKA "The Diva", will be holding another of his fab garage sales. Mind, 'garage sale' is a wee bit mis-leading, as Ron places tables round the car park and loads them to breaking point with all sort of treasures collected since he last did a sale.
Having an apartment complex in Waikiki is the perfect way to gather many items for sale. Folks move to Hawaii, thinking that life will be more perfect than when they came from, tire of all of the sun and living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and give up their collections to Ron, rather than pack up to ship back to the mainland. Truth be told, it can be rather dear to ship home things.
Ron is a fixture in Waikiki, and all during the week folks drop by and leave things they no longer want or need. There also are people who 'find' treasures and leave with Ron. One is constantly gobsmacked at the amount of things that pile up, waiting for another sale.
Some twenty years ago, if not longer, MOI had set up a flat down the road from Ron. Not having any furniture, the old geezer made a beeline to Ron's, and in short order had a complete one bedroom fitted out quite nicely. So good were the furnishings that when MOI made another of his moves back to the mainland, the items purchased from Ron some years back, brought a small profit...
There are 'garage sales' and there are "Garage Sales". Never fails that as the date nears for the sale, the car park fills up with a most interesting collection. There are 'rare' pictures, tellies, cameras, computer parts, furniture, records, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, clothing and linen. You might well find the kitchen sink there as well.
As usual, Ron will be joined at his sales by a good mate. Roy has a shop in Chinatown, sells art and the like, makes jewelry and been known to paint a lovely picture or two. Roy has been round Waikiki almost as long as Ron and between the two, there will be in-fighting, to see who runs up the most sales. There will be other local colourful characters at the sale, meaning that chins will wag all the day long.
Truth be told, MOI is of the opinion that Ron gets more out of the meeting folks from all over the world, then he does from the money generated from the sale. Ron has been known to meet a new resident to Hawaii, like them and gift them with all sort of things to furnish their flats. Not rubbish but rather useful items. There might be a chair, rattan of course, with lovely cushions, just perfect for the person to love being in Hawaii. Or there might be a set of curtains. Dishes and glasses and all sort of items for the kitchen.
Being that MOI is here before the sale starts, he got to look over some of the items. MOI loves to travel light, and clothing was sorely needed. To my delight, several pairs of shorts (Tommy Bahama) revealed self. There were shirts as well, Ralph Lauren, Harley Davidson, Greg Norman, to name but a few. Not worn out items of clothing but items ever so slightly used and in some cases not even used. For less than a 'fiver' me wardrobe has increased big time. Having gone through the shops in Waikiki, know full well that some of the items are $40.00 plus retail. Am over the moon at all of the cash saved.
The sale will last all day long, rain or shine. If past is any clue, come late Sunday, the tables will be quite empty.
Am quite looking forward to the crowds that will gather to lock up real bargains. Curious I am to see if all goes...
