So the auction thang we were talking about (organized by our church, dinner, donated items, proceeds to help fund good stuff) was set up as a silent auction. Which means that each item has beneath it a sheet of paper, and you spend the evening socializing, drinking, eating, and seeing whether the bid you wrote down ten minutes ago has been surpassed by some other lowlife who obviously doesn’t realize that’s your knick-knack.
The trick is, if you bid on too many things, you might end up with none of them (if others want them more), you might end up with some of them, or you might end up with, well, many or most or all of them. Since usually folks assume the middle result (some), they often bid for more than they really expect to pay for, which makes the third result (many or most or all) rather painful.
Just keep telling yourself, “It’s for a good cause. It’s for a good cause. It’s for a good cause …”
Margie notes that it probably says something about the folks here in town (or at least at our church) that, in the live auction that wrapped up the evening, the red fox stole went for far less than the dinner/hot tub party for six at the house of the pastor, which in turn went for much, much less than the autographed Patrick Roy jersey (or the autographed Ed McCaffrey jersey, or the autographed Terrell Davis football).
We’ve got our priorities ’round here.
For the record, Margie and I ended up with …
… a lovely hand-made quilt, the panels of which are cross-stitch of local flora.
… a lovely hand-made quilted table runner in autumn colors (suitable for Thanksgiving Dinner).
… wooden-beads-on-looping-metal-tracks table for Kitten.
… a fun print of a dressed-up coyote.
… a cool collection of Old Testament prints by Dore.
The most expensive item of the night was the services of a contractor in the parish — the basic service being offered was framing out a basement, but building a deck, etc., were also alternatives.
The second most expensive was the “privilege” of cutting off ten inches of a female parishioner’s hair, which was being donated to a local organization that makes wigs for kids undergoing chemo. It was the last item of the live auction, and so everyone was willing to pitch in on a bidding war.
And, for the record, Margie’s “five meals for four” went for $115, and her gourmet meal for six went for $215. I say “Margie’s” since she’s the one that will be doing the actual cooking and organizing. I’ll just be grunt labor. (Grunt.)
Much fun had by all. And it should make reviewing the budget at the next vestry meeting (next Tuesday) much more pleasant.