I watched the people across the street from me set up a small yard sale in their side yard, and then place a large cardboard box in the middle of the intersection. The logic of this is as astounding as it is was stupid. First off, it’s a Friday morning; second it’s a narrow street with cars parked on both sides and all along the alley making maneuvering around it difficult.

Tharptown runs parallel to SR-61, the main way in and out of Shamokin, but gets very little through traffic. Consequently, my neighbors had zero takers for the entire morning their stuff was out.

This, of course, got me thinking. What is a “yard sale” anyway? In other parts of the country, it’s a place to find used furniture, priceless collectibles and an assortment of classic movies\music\video games. Here, its usually whatever clothes and toys the local charities turned away – basically, legalized dumpster diving.