Little Girls, Little Dresses and EBay

My two girls had the good fortune of having a benefactress who sent them the most beautiful clothes as Christmas presents every year. The girls would each get three or four outfits of outstanding value which made them feel like royalty. The whole family would so look forward to the annual fashion show and the girls were very accommodating, trying each outfit on and parading around for all to admire.

Now they are grown up, establishing their own lives and Mom still has these beautiful outfits. It is time to think about downsizing, to de-clutter the house and move to a smaller, more efficient place. But what should be done about the dozens of little outfits? Then the thought popped into mind that perhaps they could be sold on eBay to another mother with little girls who would get great pleasure out of wearing the beautiful little items. It was an intriguing thought so I decided to give it a try, enthusiastically imagining putting the proceeds towards my girls' university education.

So I embarked on the great eBay experience. Like everyone, I had heard a lot about it. But nothing prepared me for the amount of work involved with listing items for sale. I was totally caught off guard. First, there was becoming an eBay member and setting up a PayPal account. Then there was learning about listing items, the bidding system, the feedback system, shipping and customs. Jumping right into the experience, I took pictures of the little outfits, used a photo editing program to show them to their best advantage, wrote listings with detailed descriptions including measurements in both inches and centimeters, and then slickly posted the items on auction. I started with a handful in order to gain some experience before listing the rest.

What a wonderful time I had, working with the dresses to show them off at their best. With each dress being prepared for sale, memories would flood back. I will never forget the one of the two year old wearing a soft violet plaid dress holding in a vice grip the head of her six month old sister wearing a tiny red velvet dress. Or what about the memory of one of the girls flying around the house in gorgeous green velvet and lace. She loved that dress. It made her feel like a princess.

It was an unforgettable experience, getting those outfits ready for sale. Whether they sell or not, I had a chance to reconnect to the wonderful times we all had together.

I dedicate this memoir to my girls and their wonderful benefactress. Thanks!