The long weekend

[offcntr]

I had no expectations for last weekend. Black Friday draws people to the big commercial venues; Saturday was the Oregon/Oregon State game, so a slow afternoon was expected. Sunday was... well, a Sunday. Post-church crowd of mainly lookers.

As it happened, I had an excellent weekend. Friday sales nearly matched the entire previous weekend, and Saturday and Sunday matched Friday. Sold a few big things--large casserole, large cookie jar, a bunch of banks, and two teapots (to the same buyer)--but mostly it was mugs, bowls, stews and dessert plates. Those $20-$25 items add up.

Lots of families. I particularly liked the two little boys in matching "Christmas Dinosaur Club" sweatshirts. Think green sequin brontosaurs in sparkly red Santa jackets. I of course had to introduce them to my Christmas dinosaurs, and we all had great fun.

Saw a lot of familiar eyebrows--can't really say faces, can I? Claude and Hannah Offenbacher from my KLCC days. My former choir director from the Newman Center. My new choir-mate from same, who wanted to handle my work. She's blind, so can't appreciate the painting, but I showed her the banks, and she wound up falling in love with an elephant bank.

I also saw an old friend from the River Road Post Office. I've shipped a lot of boxes of pottery over the years, and got to be on a first-name basis with the counter crew--Henry, Debbie, Laura and Mee. Mee left River Road, but I later found out, dropping in the West Eugene office after a visit to the DMV, that she was working there. It was lovely to see her again, and show off my work--unboxed--a little. She really liked the koala small square baker, thought it would be perfect for her daughter in California, but after years in the Post Office, was afraid it would break in mailing.

So I offered to take it home and pack it for her Saturday night, if she could pick it up Sunday. Gave it a double coat of bubble wrap, and 2-3 inches of cornstarch peanuts on all sides, left the top untaped so she could tuck in some candy and treats for her grandkids. She was surprised at the size of the box, and grateful to see how things get properly packed. Hope she'll be less reluctant to use the mail now.