Auctions & Alibis

This past weekend, my husband and I went to our school's annual auction. As always, it was a blast. But I learned something this year that I didn't know in years past.

My husband is very suggestible when he has been drinking. He isn't normally a very big party-type person. At least not around me and our friends. Some of his Air Force buddies may be guffawing at that right now, for all I know. But generally, he's a low key kind of guy.

It's not like he got very drunk. He was just...looser...than normal. And he smiled more. And he spent a lot more money!

Last year we spent a total of $75 on auction items. The year before, we didn't spend a single dime. This year we were making up for lost time and spent...well...I don't want to tell you how much we spent. But it was a lot. When at the end of the night the cashier says, "I see you're going out with a bang," you know you've spent more than expected.

I thought my husband might feel bad about it in the morning, but he doesn't have any regrets. As he says, it is for a good cause, and a cause that means a great deal to us, Southfield School. And we'll have a market umbrella designed by my daughter's third grade class to take with us when we move. She'll always be able to remember her friends though their artwork.

She'll also get to act as headmaster for a day. I have to admit that I guilted my husband into that one. "Aw, come on. She's leaving. What a way to go out," I cajoled. His hand shot up with our bidder number before I finished the sentence.

Our family will also have a private party at the Southfield gymnasium with snacks provided by Wilmore Snack Sales. And I got a very pretty necklace donated by my friend, Julie.

Speaking of my friend, Julie chaired the auction this year and did an amazing job. The theme was fun and everything went off without a hitch. Now that the auction is over, you might see her around the forums here again. Tell MsHokie congratulations on a job well done.

And if we have to eat Ramen noodles for a few months and make our own clothes next year, it was worth it. You should always go out with a bang.