Beginner's Luck

One of my California cousins just spent a few days with me. She had only two things on her agenda: a lobster dinner, and a trip to the auction. Lobster she remembers from her childhood in Massachusetts. Auctions she only learned to appreciate on her last visit, but she's hooked.

So four of us cousins went to the Golden Gavel in South Windsor, Connecticut last Thursday, after the seafood dinner was out of the way. The auction was rather disappointing: lots of collectibles, like baseball cards and coins, and what appeared to be an endless parade of repossessed furniture from someplace like Raymour and Flanigan or Ethan Allen. Boring bedroom sets, hutches and so forth...almost none of that funky Victoriana I've grown to love so much. All Sandy wanted was one of the trays of junky jewelry. She had spotted some enormous fake emerald ring she liked, and a couple of pairs of earrings. I never even bother with the costume jewelry--I've got enough to start my own store already, and never wear any of it.

Somebody bid five dollars for the tray, she bid ten, and that was that. Sandra was happy. We got so bored after that, we decided to cash out. Sandy dug out the half-dozen items she liked and announced she was leaving the rest, as not even worth carrying onto the plane. I asked the attendant for a loupe and examined the remaining pieces to see if anything was signed. And what should I spot, under some mismatched clip earrings, but a  diamond solitaire set in 18-carat gold. That will probably pay for her whole trip!

Geri and I divvied up the discards. I ended up with two lockets, a large crystal, a sterling silver Claddagh ring, a compass on a fob, chains, necklaces, earrings, brooches, etc., etc. Here's just some of my share in the photo. It doesn't look half bad cleaned up. I'll probably accessorize not myself, but my house with it. Or make Taz a fancy collar. Meanwhile, I learned my lesson. From now on I won't turn my nose up at those crappy trays anymore.