Copyright (C) John Lundgren 2002- Permission is granted
to reprint this article as long as the resource box is
included. Please let me know when you use
article by emailing me at: johnl42@yahoo.com
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Blink,Wave Or Scream-It's Auction Time!

Auctions are a kick, right? Sometimes while thrusting my arm
in the air, I wish someone would give me a kick! Anyway, I am
one of the arm wavers at your friendly corner auction.
Did I say friendly? Yes, as friendly as a lion's den as
everyone competes for the pieces of meat! And to think that
I am a vegetarian!

Recently at an auction I attended, I noted the various
styles of bidding and was especially fascinated by a technique
used by Mr Blink. Mr Blink would sit looking as bored as a
lizard sitting on a rock. When a fine piece of funiture came
up, he never flinched, but maybe he yawned. As the bidders
drove the price skyward, old Mr Blink waited in ambush.

Just as the bidding was about to come to an end, old Mr Blink
shot his hand up-only once. From here on out, the only
part of his body to flinch were his eyelids. Now the rift-raft
had long fled the scene and only three or four serious bidders
remained. Everyone scanned the hall to locate the mysterious
bidders. One remained hidden behind his inscrutable blink,
and later he loaded a nice piece of curly maple furniture
into his van.

Sure, the hall was filled with head nodders, ear pullers, and
head shakers, but this night Mr Blink ruled. I began to realize
that there was an unwritten code between the auctioneer and
his high roller bidders. Before the gavel hit the podium,
there was usually a quick glance at Mr Blink and other
bidders accustomed to bidding high and winning.

A closer look at Mr Blink revealed a cunning strategy. Just
when someone thought the winning bid was theirs, Mr Blink
yanked the rug from under them. His late bid in the
the auction was a heart breaker for the competition and served
notice that his check book was prepared for battle. Much of
the competition gave up without a fight.

Then an amorphous pile of debris came up for bid. There was
a lull in the action as the auctioneer directed his eye
toward one of his most reliable bottom feeders.
Recognition by the man himself. This is powerful stuff and
the person's body reacts spasmodically. There is no subtle
blinking of eyes, no tugging on ears, and no nodding of the
head. An arm shoots skyward and the man shouts the word
SOLD! Yup, I defeated them all. Where was Mr. Blink when
I needed him.

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John Lundgren is a garage sale enthusiast and author
of, "How To Turn Your Garage Sale Into a Money
Machine." Visit http://www.garagesalebonanza.com for free
tips. Send a blank email to garagesale@freeautobot.com for
a free course on garage sales and auctions.