Hooray! One last sale to go to in 2018!
Okay, it wasn’t actually much of an estate sale. I overheard
one of the family running it tell someone it was the fourth sale they had held,
which explained the largely empty rooms. I offered them three bucks for the
three items I found which they took so fast I wished I had offered two!
I started upstairs, where I had to use the flashlight on my
phone to get around. There must not have been a light bulb stronger than 20
watts anywhere in the house. My first find was just a whim.
I love the design of the embroidered patch, and for something with a date of 1954 it
looks brand new. Half the fun of bringing stuff like this home is what you find
out afterwards. Camp Pioneer, a Boy Scout camp about 2½ hours east of Salem, was founded
in 1936 – and it's still there!
At first I thought this was a triangular head scarf, but now
I realize it must have been a neckerchief.
There were any number of wool scarves in the various rooms; I
think at least some of them were Pendletons, though none had a label. I resisted
all (my scarf collection has gotten prodigious) until I came across this lined
wool stole.
It's about 7 feet long and possibly homemade; the side seams are
machine sewn but both ends are hand stitched. I think what really got me to
bring it home is the hand-knotted fringe. I'm always a sucker for a good
detail.
Back downstairs, I came across what I assumed is a twin-size
bedspread. I fell hard for the fabric.
When I tried it on a twin bed at home, I saw it's really an
odd size. Very long, but not wide enough to hang over the sides very far. But in
perfect condition. Maybe I'll drape it over the sofa or something. Or just hang
it on a wall as art. And both sides are nice!
I met up with my buddy Judy while I was there, and we went
out for a bit of breakfast afterward. We had a good chat (haven’t seen each
other for a few weeks, those pesky holidays got in the way) and as we headed to
our cars she remarked that it had made her feel so much better to have a sale
to go to. We had to laugh at ourselves, because it's so true. We really don’t care
if we find anything to buy (though it's great when we do). It's that lovely
anticipation when you start out, having no idea what the day will bring.
I am wondering why I don’t bring that same anticipation to
every day. After all, we never know what will come down the pike on any given
day. We think we know, and of course
lots of days go as expected. But certainly not all.
Ah, but here’s the difference. Going to all these sales
rarely includes anything really negative. About the worst that happens is you
encounter someone who is rude or unpleasant, or you buy something you regret. But
you’re unlikely to have to deal with that unpleasant person ever again, and you
probably spent so little on that unneeded item that your regret is minimal. And
the good encounters and fabulous deals far outweigh the bad.
So maybe I should bring that attitude more into everyday
life – view the unpleasant parts as not very important, and focus on the good
parts. A good plan for a new year.
Or – maybe I should go thrifting every day?
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