I feel so much passion streaming through my fingertips right now as I start this ode to estate sales. I've been attending these with my mom since I can remember.

Estate sales are when a home is opened up to the public and all (or most) of the items inside are for sale. Typically a professional runs the show because of their skill at appraising and also the emotional energy it takes for a person to value and part with the items in their home or the home of a loved one. People often have these sales when a family member has moved into assisted living, a major life event has happened like a divorce or a long-distance move, or when someone has passed away. That said, it's appropriate to have a certain reverence when attending a sale. This is someone's collected life.