My First Time…At A Silent Auction
This will be the first in a series of posts in which I describe the first time I do something. Actually, when I think of it that way, this is the 2nd one of the those posts. Here’s the first…my first horseback riding lesson.
I am an old soul. I enjoy long walks, grocery shopping and driving around probably more than I should. I’m really good at enjoying simple things.
My old soul-ness makes it very easy for me to get along with people like my mom’s friends. She grew up in Connecticut, and many of her friends from grade school still live in the area. They were among the first ones to congratulate me on my job at ESPN almost a year ago, and they were absolutely the first ones to help me out when I first moved here. A place to crash, a ride to the airport…anything I needed, they were amazing from the start.
Tonight, one of them had her company’s big fundraiser, a silent auction and beer/wine tasting. I had never been to an auction of any kind before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. She had told me about some of the fantastic things that I could bid on–spa packages, gift cards, a Trader Joe’s gift bag (!!!). I met up with two of mom’s other friends at their house, and headed to the fundraiser
The wine (delicious, BTW) certainly helped, but the four of us talked and laughed A LOT. It was fun browsing all of the items, putting down your bid with the minuscule possibility it could be yours be evening’s end. I bid on a Kindle with a cover ::swoon::, the Trader Joe’s gift bag ::nomnomnom::, a Keurig coffee maker ::weeeee::, and a group of gift cards to a bunch of restaurants in Hartford ::nomnomnom again::. As luck would have it, I ended up winning the restaurant gift cards, $70 worth and I paid $50. Holla!
My mom’s friends talked about how much they enjoyed the wine, especially the reds. They discussed the quality of this year’s food compared to last year’s auction. They asked earnestly about how they’re all doing. It is so easy for me to talk to them, sometimes easier than talking to people my own age. Maybe it’s because they know my mom so well, they know more about me than I give them credit for. But I swear, I have so much fun with them, these wise women who are like sisters to one another. Every problem, every triumph, they know EVERYTHING.
I have certain friends I know I’ll be like this with 30 years from now. I just hope to be as helpful, hilarious and welcoming.
Who or what do you hope to be like 30 years from now? What’s one thing you’d pay absolutely ANYTHING for at an auction?
