Getification
The streets of our city are now filling with new creatures each weekend. These creatures have been in hibernation for the better part of 5 months. But as the weather started to warm and the leaves began to appear on the trees – they began coming out. Actually “bait” is being set for these creatures to which they respond very nicely to. When the bait is set they are immediately attacked to it and take the bait. The best part is they are worth money to the people who can catch them.
What are these mysterious creatures? The answer is simple – “garage sale-ers”. After being trapped in a house for the long winter months in Canada they almost vibrate to get on to the streets again and whiz from sale to sale.
For people that are not from Canada an explanation is good here. The excess that many people have in there homes in Canada has created a need to get rid of the things that are no longer needed. They need to sell these things. Operating on the simple principle that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” – a simple point of sale is arranged at the “street side” or “in front of” or “inside of” the garage… that was once designed to hold an automobile. The likelihood that the homeowner has collected too many things in their lifetime is high – and the garage is full of saleable things.
As a student of human nature I have been fascinated by this phenomena of people looking through other people’s junk that may be good, or not so good; broken or just glued together; may have all the pieces or not – and then pay them good money for something that is not new. In fact what they buy may well be really gaudy – or downright ugly!
We were at one garage sale and picking through the pile of stuff that was neatly arranged on the driveway for all to see. I went to pick up one item that was “interesting”. A fellow garage sale-er was also reaching for the same item at the same time. She hesitated and withdrew her hand saying, “It’s okay, you can have it, I have three just like it at home.” I withdrew my hand and asked her for more information about her statement. She explained that she had a ‘Thing’ for these things. The thing was a really gross and totally useless 12 inch high bust of Elvis Presley done in plaster with a copper finish.
Why I was even at the sale with the Elvis lover was beyond me. Alida and I love looking at other people’s junk. Sometimes the smell is a little over powering as the smell of smoke is lingering on the Record Collection of LPs from the 1960s. Or the whiff of mildew is lingering on the old radio that has the curled and frayed electrical cord. But with a little effort I know I can clean these things up and makes something out of it.
Don’t laugh – that is where I got the almost new Eight Track Tape Player for my garage. I am now able to play the endless supply of Eight Track Tapes that I have secured – all 150+ of them. Do you want to hear some of the “oldie goldees” that I have? There is Motown, Rock n Roll, Classical, Jazz and even Ukrainian Polka Party stuff in the 150+ set of Eight Tracks. In fact the new Eight Track Tape Player that I now have has the ability to record on to Eight Track Tapes – I just haven’t yet found the recordable tapes or something to record on to them… maybe at the next sale… hmmm?
Now I know that we are a strange group of people – we garage sale-ers. I now have an answer to why we do what we do – looking through other people’s junk to possibly consider it as our treasures. The new word that describes our actions best is – “GETIFICATION”.
“GETIFICATION” is related to gratification and somewhat thinly related to beautification. Gratification, as you know, is sought by getting stuff that you like or are enthralled with. Beautification is a desire to make your humble abode or your person more attractive. A bronzed, copper coloured, plaster Elvis Presley bust falls into these two categories of gratification and beautification. To make sure that we are able to fulfill these two vital areas of our lives we must act on “GETIFICATION”.
Along with the “Elvis Presley bust” are the Eight Track Tapes and the Players that are needed to play the tapes. “GETIFICATION” will answer the need for whatever you have need of. Real money is paid out because of “GETIFICATION”.
On the downside - “GETIFICATION” will fill your own garage to overflowing and “your cup will runneth over”. “GETIFICATION” may cause serious marriage problems or family problems as intelligent and happy collectors start filling their partner’s and family’s space with “GETIFICATION STUFF”.
When I sorted through the Clutter Corner in my garage the other day I saw some results of “GETIFICATION”. There was evidence of the growing virus in my own garage.
Yes “GETIFICATION” can be considered a virus that will take great people and make them into mush. Their hands will shake and their breaks will be applied suddenly at the sight of a garage sale. They will fixate on the Antique Road Show of TV. They will dream of this next weekend’s weather and hope for no rain.
We are planning a garage sale soon. To introduce the idea to all those that will drive by our property I am now preparing a sign that will say simply… “GETIFICATION” satisfied HERE. That ought to get them in. I am sure that the garage sale-ers will come. “Build and they will come…” “Lay it out neatly and they will stop…”
“GETIFICATION” will get them every time.
Come on – come and get it!
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – I did not make up the word “GETIFICATION” – it struck me in a new Ad Series on TV that caught my attention. The new campaign uses the term "Experience instant getification" Read about it here http://searchengineland.com/070503-090852.php and http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad_of_the_day/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003582390
What are these mysterious creatures? The answer is simple – “garage sale-ers”. After being trapped in a house for the long winter months in Canada they almost vibrate to get on to the streets again and whiz from sale to sale.
For people that are not from Canada an explanation is good here. The excess that many people have in there homes in Canada has created a need to get rid of the things that are no longer needed. They need to sell these things. Operating on the simple principle that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” – a simple point of sale is arranged at the “street side” or “in front of” or “inside of” the garage… that was once designed to hold an automobile. The likelihood that the homeowner has collected too many things in their lifetime is high – and the garage is full of saleable things.
As a student of human nature I have been fascinated by this phenomena of people looking through other people’s junk that may be good, or not so good; broken or just glued together; may have all the pieces or not – and then pay them good money for something that is not new. In fact what they buy may well be really gaudy – or downright ugly!
We were at one garage sale and picking through the pile of stuff that was neatly arranged on the driveway for all to see. I went to pick up one item that was “interesting”. A fellow garage sale-er was also reaching for the same item at the same time. She hesitated and withdrew her hand saying, “It’s okay, you can have it, I have three just like it at home.” I withdrew my hand and asked her for more information about her statement. She explained that she had a ‘Thing’ for these things. The thing was a really gross and totally useless 12 inch high bust of Elvis Presley done in plaster with a copper finish.
Why I was even at the sale with the Elvis lover was beyond me. Alida and I love looking at other people’s junk. Sometimes the smell is a little over powering as the smell of smoke is lingering on the Record Collection of LPs from the 1960s. Or the whiff of mildew is lingering on the old radio that has the curled and frayed electrical cord. But with a little effort I know I can clean these things up and makes something out of it.
Don’t laugh – that is where I got the almost new Eight Track Tape Player for my garage. I am now able to play the endless supply of Eight Track Tapes that I have secured – all 150+ of them. Do you want to hear some of the “oldie goldees” that I have? There is Motown, Rock n Roll, Classical, Jazz and even Ukrainian Polka Party stuff in the 150+ set of Eight Tracks. In fact the new Eight Track Tape Player that I now have has the ability to record on to Eight Track Tapes – I just haven’t yet found the recordable tapes or something to record on to them… maybe at the next sale… hmmm?
Now I know that we are a strange group of people – we garage sale-ers. I now have an answer to why we do what we do – looking through other people’s junk to possibly consider it as our treasures. The new word that describes our actions best is – “GETIFICATION”.
“GETIFICATION” is related to gratification and somewhat thinly related to beautification. Gratification, as you know, is sought by getting stuff that you like or are enthralled with. Beautification is a desire to make your humble abode or your person more attractive. A bronzed, copper coloured, plaster Elvis Presley bust falls into these two categories of gratification and beautification. To make sure that we are able to fulfill these two vital areas of our lives we must act on “GETIFICATION”.
Along with the “Elvis Presley bust” are the Eight Track Tapes and the Players that are needed to play the tapes. “GETIFICATION” will answer the need for whatever you have need of. Real money is paid out because of “GETIFICATION”.
On the downside - “GETIFICATION” will fill your own garage to overflowing and “your cup will runneth over”. “GETIFICATION” may cause serious marriage problems or family problems as intelligent and happy collectors start filling their partner’s and family’s space with “GETIFICATION STUFF”.
When I sorted through the Clutter Corner in my garage the other day I saw some results of “GETIFICATION”. There was evidence of the growing virus in my own garage.
Yes “GETIFICATION” can be considered a virus that will take great people and make them into mush. Their hands will shake and their breaks will be applied suddenly at the sight of a garage sale. They will fixate on the Antique Road Show of TV. They will dream of this next weekend’s weather and hope for no rain.
We are planning a garage sale soon. To introduce the idea to all those that will drive by our property I am now preparing a sign that will say simply… “GETIFICATION” satisfied HERE. That ought to get them in. I am sure that the garage sale-ers will come. “Build and they will come…” “Lay it out neatly and they will stop…”
“GETIFICATION” will get them every time.
Come on – come and get it!
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – I did not make up the word “GETIFICATION” – it struck me in a new Ad Series on TV that caught my attention. The new campaign uses the term "Experience instant getification" Read about it here http://searchengineland.com/070503-090852.php and http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad_of_the_day/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003582390
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
1 Comments:
Getification, I love it! I guess that is one good thing about not having any extra money, I can’t get “getified” with any more treasures, or should I say clutter. Eight Track Tapes! Murray you are dating yourself! Don’t worry, we are right there with you, we used to have lots too. I hope you didn’t purchase Elvis for your Clutter Corner!
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