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作为一个初到美国的危地马拉人，我无法眼睁睁地看着那些好端端的东西被当作“废品”白白丢弃。于是，我开始了我的周末“庭院旧货出售”淘宝生涯，而远在故乡的父亲，也由此开始了一项欣欣向荣的生意。 The first time I went for a walk around my father-in-law’s neighborhood it was garbage day[1], and I was shocked to see what people were throwing out. Being from Guatemala[2], where families wish they could own a radio, a television, or any of those electrical appliances I saw being dumped, I was tempted to pick up every item.[3] But I knew my new American family would not approve. Then spring arrived. This was back in 1981, and I recall going for a walk to a pond near where my wife and I were living. That’s when I saw all these people gathered in someone’s front yard. As I approached to see what was happening I got my first introduction to yard sales[4]. For the few dollars I had in my wallet, I was able to buy my own seven-inch black-and-white portable TV[5]. I also bought a flashlight in a country that almost never goes dark, because my mind was still thinking of Guatemala where the electricity goes out every night during the raining season.[6] The following weekend, at another yard sale, I saw a 14-inch color TV being sold for almost nothing[7]. I felt I could not miss this offer and bought it. Now I had two sets and couldn’t wait to see what else I could afford the next weekend. | 
