I know these are trying times we live in but I NEVER thought I would attend a sheriff's sale to ascertain for a friend if their property really did sell to the bank that day.  But I did, my first sheriff's sale ever.  The husband was going to go to the sale but I think it is good he was otherwise engaged at the last minute.  When we planned to go together, I asked him if he was going to cry (I couldn't have handled that) and he said no.  They have had a long time to get used to this being the best/only thing they could do.  I will say though, sitting there in Courtroom 7 with the sheriff, two other court personnel, a mortgage broker looking for income property and another real estate sort jotting down every word uttered by the sheriff on a pre-made graph, well, it was pretty sobering.  Over 40 properties were sold to the banks that day, no bids from anyone else.  The pace was routine - open the folder, announce the owner and property address, state the bid from the bank, look up for additional bidders, close the file folder with the verdict.  Next.  There were occasional comments veering from the standard, "There mustn't be any properties left on that street that AREN'T foreclosures!" from the sheriff at one point.  Another time, when an owner was announced twice in a row, one property after another, the sheriff commented, "Not a good day for Warren X."  I did feel a twinge of sadness when my friends' name and address came up, sold to the bank for a ridiculous sum.  (My husband was incredulous when I told him.)  I knew though that they were unfortunately in good company with the decline in values here and the fault of their foreclosure lying in circumstances way beyond their control.  They'll be in their home for the graduation of the youngest child and the marriage of the oldest.  They are accepting of their fate and glad the timing works out so well.  I feel sick about it though.  Heart and soul were proudly poured into their home, open to many, and often.  I'm not sure I could be so gracious in defeat.  They surpass me and readily answer to a greater God.