I have found that people value things more that have an element of sacrifice attached to it--financial, time, achievement, labor--etc. While I could have given the toy away, I would not have to take it to a yard sale to do so. Prices at yard sales are arbitrary but I base them on the current value of any item, not the price originally paid, hence the asking price of $20.00.

Nice post Laura. I have been feeling sad about the Gore's breakup. Thanks for writing about it.

Years ago I had a neighbor who I thought was flashing me occasionally but I couldn't quite see that far, so I had some doubt. One day, my view was clear and I called the police. Turns out he had recently flashed a NINE YEAR OLD girl but it was her word against his. It also turned out that 3 other women on the street knew he was flashing them and had done nothing about it. They all had an excuse--"he's harmless, he's getting older, he's on medication." No one knew about the nine year old girl until I filed a police report.

You failed again by not filing a police report. The boy may not bother your daughter again but you have not done anything to protect the next little girl he encounters.