By KAREN MADORIN
Who cares about Saturday night entertainment when you can spend the day at a country auction? Now that it’s cooling down, local auctioneers are revving their season with weekly sales before snow flies. Both my husband and I enjoy looking at the ads to see what what’s on the sale block and where. Fortunately or unfortunately, we’re at that place in our lives where we don’t need anything, but it sure is fun to examine what other folks collected during their time on earth and see how our gathering skills compare.
One of the bonuses to attending local auctions is that we’re sure to run into old friends. A number of us were part of these Saturday crowds for decades as we furnished houses, kitchens, and tool shops from scratch. Once we found our necessities, some of us got hooked on belongings someone else first loved. Others bid on treasures that reminded them of childhood or visits to grandparents’ homes. Depending on the collection, a great auction is better than visiting a museum. It’ fascinating to see snippets from folks’ lives from decades before. Sometimes, I find a treasure I didn’t know I needed and my head keeps nodding yes during the bidding.
Oftentimes, regular attendees turn their interest and time into businesses where they buy furniture or equipment to re-sell. Others run booths or online businesses marketing finds to those who don’t have the inclination or time to spend at an all-day auction. A few turn their homes and yards into artistic showcases full of quirky items they repurpose. Nothing like a worn- out wheel barrow, rusty cast iron kettle, or cream separator to display overflowing blooms. Some win the bid on giant carved birds to decorate their world.
Who knows who you’ll run into at an auction, so prepare for catch-up gab. This can involve hours discovering where old colleagues now live or finding out what kids and grandkids are up to. Heaven’s, some early starters share stories about great grands! It doesn’t seem possible time enough has passed to create great grands when everyone still feels young on the inside. These conversations also remember those we’ve lost since last we visited.
For those of us who enjoy local comedy, there’s no one better to poke fun than a good auctioneer. From the time I first attended Stithem and Fabrizius auctions back in the '70s, Leon would interrupt the chatter long enough to tease someone in the crowd and then resume business without losing his concentration. This last week, we were in the community center in a nearby town and folks competitively bid high dollar on foofoorah. Eventually, boxes of religious objects, pictures, crosses, and other sentimental objects crossed the table. For whatever reason, it took a while for folks to bid, triggering the auctioneer to astutely remind us, “Jesus is watching.”
For fans of homemade food, auctions showcase local cooks. Area vendors sell homemade pies and cinnamon rolls. Kirwin auctions once guaranteed slices of fresh coconut cream or butterscotch pies. Auctions at the Ellis K of C Hall promise so many choices that diners have to hit the kitchen more than once. Hungry buyers can snag hot-off-the grill brauts, burgers, and dogs. Add a pickled egg or brownie to complete the meal and you’re set to bid the rest of the day.
Folks in big cities might attend concerts and professional entertainment more often than those of us from rural areas. That said, it’s hard to beat a good auction for a full day’s entertainment shared with friends.
You might even haul home treasure you didn’t know you needed.
Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.