I take Mama to the Thrift Shop

What is it about thrift shops?? They smell funny, they are full of things cast out by their original owners: jackets with worn out elbows, books with tattered covers, crooked lampshades, half burned candles, dolls with frizzy hair….

And yet….on Thursday Mary Frances and I headed into the new (to us) Durham Rescue Mission Thrift Shop like cats with our tails on fire. After a morning of Disciples Bible Study and a fine luncheon at Hardee’s, we were ready to open Pandora’s Box.

I made a firm vow, as usual, I WILL NOT TO BUY ANYTHING I DON'T NEED! My house is full to the gills already, especially where books are concerned. And if my boys come back from their road trip to Illinois and find I've “accumulated” more…they will never let me hear then end of it!

Mama and I entered the Thrift Store and just gaped for a second at the cavernous space; we were used to the small, tidy Goodwill Store. I just didn't know where to begin, but she sure did. From the doorway she made a beeline for the bookshelves in the back like some kinda book seeking missile. Good thing we latched the basket onto her walker. We were gonna need it.

We dove in. They had a great selection. I would find ones I thought Mama would like and she’d say “no” and she’d finds ones she thought I would like and I would say “no”.  I adamantly REFUSED any books for my grandchildren, as I have yet to acquire even a daughter-in-law.  After much hemming and hawing we settled on a great subset which included: 

                ... a book in Japanese which Mary Frances found for Zack. We hope it’s Japanese. We don’t really know!

2                 ... a book on painting landscapes- Nat and I are trying to teach ourselves to paint. 

3                ... the novel A Reliable Wife – I bought for myself even though I have it on my Kindle  waiting to be read. 75 cents can turn a read into a beach read – no worries about getting sand in the electronics. When I got it home, I flipped through it and to my surprise, found a photo of a beautiful little boy inside. Look at that face!

4             ... a book of illustrated Bible Stories that Mama couldn't pass up.  

By the time we finished the books Mama had to sit a spell and catch her second wind. I knew we couldn't tackle clothes.  I’m pretty selective and the racks went on and on, so we checked out the furniture instead. Mama lobbied for a $45 wing chair upholstered in tapestry with a book motif. NO.

Next up, toys and bric a brac. We did find an adorable pull toy. We held onto it to decide until later. We looked at hundreds of dishes, glasses, candles, candle holders, figurines, picture frames, rows and rows. A little vintage pottery bunny caught both sets of eyes and made the cut. There was something so charming about it and we wished we knew its story. Finally, Mama lost her steam and had to sit again while I finished up. 

All told, we spend $13.85. The toy made the cut. 

Because that’s what it is about thrift shops.

They weave together the past: “I had one of those, remember?”

With the present: “This is just perfect for….”

With the future: “One day there might be a little “tootie”….”

And that’s why we love thrift shops. How could we not?  Past, present, and hopeful future, all in one place.  Just like in churches. And families.