Yesterday drove to Esk to attend an auction of household effects. Jacqui's effects. Jacqui is in a home now and the contents of her two story queenslander with dormer window were spread across the lawn for all of us strangers-in-hunt-of-a-bargain/find to paw through.
There was a rack of clothing; old ladies clothing, that was also going to be auctioned off. It was a sad sight, dark pastels and navy blue sweaters with white piping, a pinkish purple mottled jacket. I could almost see the old lady wearing them. Now, instead gazing out at her garden with the twin pony tail palms (lot 239) she is gazing at what, 4 walls? other lost and lonely faces across the dining room table, quick smiling nurses with permanent creases between their brows?
An entire lifetime gone in an afternoon. We bought the imitation Tiffany lamp. Thank you, Jacqui. I loved it when I saw it and one day, I hope, someone else will adopt and love it too. Instead of a rack of old lady clothes, dresses and skirts and sweaters, mine will be a drawer of jeans and tee shirts. Jacqui's auction was a timely reminder. Time is fleeting. A baby, a child, a young woman, a mother, a crone. All gone with the auctioneer's hammer.
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