Could there have been a more perfect day for the All-Montlake Fall Yard Sale? The sun presided. A light breeze wafted. Early crimson & gold leaves shone against our always green, tree-lined streets.

Montlake yard sale hosts in 42 locations, hauled out all their goods as the morning began. Bright yellow sale signs were barely posted before early bird shoppers descended to pick up choice goods. And then as the day unfolded, Montlake neighbors and shoppers from throughout the metro area continued to arrive.

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Couples meandered hand in hand from yard to yard checking out the array of offerings. Moms and Dads wheeled toddlers, carried babies, led pre-schoolers, and hurried behind fast-moving pre-teens as they made their way from one spot to the next. Elders strolled from site to site finding here, an antique remembered from childhood, there, LPs from the good old days, and everywhere, puzzling modern gizmos.  Treasures discovered. Sale items admired. Prices negotiated. Deals made. Booty carried off.

More importantly, Montlake neighbors greeted neighbors. “It’s great when we get people to stroll through the neighborhood and talk to each other,” said one host. Newcomers met the folks up and down their street for the first time, and long delayed conversations happened between old friends. One yard sale host reported “I talked to a neighbor … and we had several long conversations–more than in the past 25 years!” It’s results like this that the Montlake Community Club Board members were aiming for, in keeping with our charter.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that in some yards, the profits were satisfying–one host reported $500. Or that another host was pleased because she’d sold “a lot of little things and made a lot of donations to the two trucks,” (from the Northwest Center and St. Vincent De Paul) AND that she felt “so much better after the Autumnal Purification” because “it made a noticeable difference in my house and my head.”

Now that we’ve learned from this first successful adventure in community yard sale organizing, a strong argument can be made for turning this into an annual event. Just to support that argument, look again at Jonathan Phillips’ fine photos around and about the neighborhood–maybe you’ll see yourself or someone you know. Yes, Montlake basked in fall sunshine on Saturday, and the lucky ones were there. Let’s do it again next year!