It's Garage Sale Sunday and for the second time in my life, I am going to participate in a community wide flea market in Boulder, aptly titled: The Hill Flea. I'm excited.

Not only is it going to be a pleasant day in the mid-70s, I know I am going to see lots of my friends in the community. Everyone loves the Saturday farmers market, and the newly inagurated Sunday flea market will bring out the same crowd and more.

It's not like I know everyone in town. Actually, I went to a benefit for Boulder Weekly the other night and in a crowded room, saw only about 10 people that I knew. What makes me *feel* like I know everyone at the flea market is that they walk right up to me and say "Hi" and give me a hug. We talk about everything going on ... and nothing. It's just simple fun and a way to feel connected to community.

My first time at the Hill Flea was last Sunday, opening day. I brought books to sell, and found they made an easy trade for food and novel items from nearby books. At closing, a couple of books even brought me enough vegetables - from a permaculture stand - to last for three good meals, and a couple of new friends, thrown in.

Today, because I now have discovered how creative a flea market can be ... I am going to branch out. I'm bringing a box of items that I'll sell for $1 ... just to see the happy look on the faces of people who get to buy something good ... something that I no longer need ... for a bargin price.

And, I'm going to pass out smiles to everyone. Everyone. It's my little Sunday experiment in seeing how a smile can lift a person's soul, and brighten a cloudy day.  My own smile will strengthen me too.

I'll share a little bit about this experiment in Garage Sale Spirituality in tomorrow's blog.