Second Hand

Lately, I've been hanging out at second hand stores.  Stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, St.Vincent De Paul.  No, I'm not turning into a hoarder, although that show is very interesting. I can see how hoarders end up that way.. easily.

No, those second hand stores are like a peek into yesterday.  Funky smells, weird stains on blenders, cups, greasy afghan "quilts".  I wonder... who would ever want this stuff?  Who had this stuff?  Why is it here? Dark shadows run through my mind. Is this someone's "estate"?   Is this the discarded remnants of someone's full vibrant life?  Did they make pancakes every Sunday on this stained, wobbly, singed marked griddle?   Could someone pick up this griddle and start a new Sunday tradition, and the traces of the previous owners Sunday morning griddle life would somehow transfer into a new place?  Eh... creepy.

But then the quirky and weird always make me smile when I'm in those placees.  Not quite antique, not quite vintage... but just  the discarded stuff that someone didn't want anymore. Maybe they moved, maybe they got better stuff, maybe  they married and their old stuff wasn't needed anymore?  I saw nine George Foreman grills at St. Vinny's today.  I'm sure they function quite well, but why are they here?  And why did nine people discard them?   Did they get them for Christmas?  Was it some subtle hint by a relative, --Hey, I know you're trying to lose weight, here's a grill for Christmas.  Nice. That's why the grills are there.  George made millions on those grills, and there they sit on the salvaged shelf at St.Vinny's for $3.00 - $5.00 a piece.  Means something I'm sure. 

But mostly, I hang out there to find stuff for my daughters new life.  Hopeful, that some of the discards will find a happy new life.  Vacuums, pots and pans, blenders, even a funky weird chair from 1977 will become a treasure or at least a prized possession?  I have great hopes for that funky find;  that it will become a party chair, a featured backdrop in campus party pictures. "Hey, here's Kristin passed out on that awful chair. OMG.. that chair is so ugly it's hilarious."

Somehow tying the past of that chair- the once vibrant harvest gold floral pattern for the woman of the house, to greet her  guests for a night of bridge-- to it's present day position of beer pong chair.. is just. Perfect.