What I love about shopping at thrift stores (especially Value Village) is the almost-unconscious rhythm of the search. Today, I arrived at Value Village fifteen minutes after it opened for it’s Memorial Day half-off sale.
The parking lot was packed and every aisle was full of carts and kids and harried mothers and the occasional man. The children’s clothing area was unusually treacherous, traffic-jammed with ruthless women slapping clothing into their carts which were stuffed full, stacks and stacks of clothing with a toy stashed here and there for good measure.
I watched a mother try to talk her pre-teen daughter into a costume for Halloween. The daughter wanted to believe–I could see hope yearning to smile in her face–but I knew she thought her mother was deranged. I did, too, but don’t tell her that. She went on and on in a falsely cheerful voice: “And you could wear your boots and you would look so cute!”
I heard a mother threatening to “beat yer butt,” and I heard countless children whining and crying and yelling. I was just glad that none of those children or mothers were related to me.
The hours glide by while I am shopping, swishing and clicking the hangers, checking for brand names, stopping occasionally to examine a shirt or a dress. If the price is right (fifty-percent off a thrift store price is always right), the condition is near-perfect, and the tag shows a brand-name, I buy it. I examine quickly, I decide quickly, I walk quickly, and yet, the time slips away.
I don’t really think while I shop. Sometimes, the annoying tune of the background music worms its way into my skull and repeats on an endless loop, but usually my mind drifts free. Thrift-shopping is as close as I come to meditating. I’m in an altered state, one keen to find bargains, particularly those from The Gap, Lands End, Hanna Andersson, Healthtex, Eddie Bauer, Tommy Hilfiger, and Carter’s.
Today, I found three heavy pottery pots which will be perfect for the “Fiesta!”, our Vacation Bible School. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I returned home in time to lay down with my daughter for nap-time. She slept and I crept out of the room to de-clutter and start laundry and clean the kitchen. When she woke, I took the kids to the pool which just opened. I wore jeans and long sleeves and took a fleece jacket just in case. They wore swimsuits, even though the high temperature was below sixty degrees today. (The pools are heated, but still!)
Now that the pool is open, I feel like school should be over, but we still have three weeks to go. I dread slogging through these final weeks, but slog we must. At least we’re getting close to the finish line.
And now, tomorrow has almost arrived, so I will hurry upstairs to catch David Letterman’s monologue before falling to sleep. The mornings will be early again this week. I dread that, too.
Actual Unretouched Photo 
Your schools run later than ours – we’re on our last week. But we go back 8-14 so that may make up for it.
I like thrift stores too. And yard sales. Good thing or the girls might be running around naked.
(Except for underwear – that I buy new, but cheap). They grow so fast.
LikeLike
I love thrift stores too! I don’t buy much for the kids there, because kids tend to wear out clothes before they outgrow them, but I have found some amazing finds for myself.
LikeLike
I LOVE a good sale….especially when I find things that I need/want and realize the money that I saved.
The time does fly by….but only when you’re alone 🙂
LikeLike
I went to Fred Meyer yesterday and one of our Value Village stores is across the road from it. I thought of you when I saw the crowd there, remembering it was 50% off day and knowing you love to stop in there, too. I didn’t brave the crowds…Dear Hubby and I had just been out at the one in Tigard on Saturday and I had gardening on my mind yesterday, haha! One brand I love as far as comfortable tops goes is Karen Scott…always soft brushed-cotton and roomy in the arms…I have very broad shoulders and can’t stand tops that pinch me in the armpits! And I love Sag Harbor and Koret brand skirts for church…can’t stand binding waistbands and they’re usually quite comfortable. I’m with Ann, tho, when it comes to underwear. I have to buy mine new, too.
LikeLike
We “get” to school all summer! Yay.
My favorite place to shop for my bosy is Goodwill. I get all their summer clothes there. 1.25 for a t shirt just can’t be beat! Liek you, I only buy name brand, same one as you (except hanna anderson) and add in Old Navy and American Eagle.
LikeLike
I spent my holiday much the same way. On vacation though, yet still thirft shopping.
And, we are off for more of that!
I envy your weather. It is a sweltering humid 90 degrees.
LikeLike
My timing must be off. I can spend hours searching thrift stores and I never, ever, find the great bargains others do.
Oh, Wednesday is our last day of school. I am so psyched!
LikeLike
I have the exact same feeling about thrift store shopping (same as meditating). I absolutely love it and the one thing our new town lacks is a decent thrift store. There are a couple I stop by now and then, but it is soooo hit and miss it is depressing. I’ve spent two vacation days in other towns just doing thrift shopping. It is a necessity!
LikeLike
I can’t do it. I try and I try, and I just don’t have the knack. My mom does, with the occasional stumble, much like the halloween costume mom, she has been known to defend an assualt to the eyes with, “But it’s a SPEEDO!” I admire those who can get lost in thrift shopping and walk out with treasures. I admire it more when some of the treasures are selected for me…
LikeLike
Aaahhh VV’s Boutique. I miss those days. There are few good thrift stores here in our part of southern CA, though there are many trendy consignment stores, translate, way fewer real bargains. It’s often cheaper to buy it new at Target off of the clearance rack, Which is my new zen shopping art, or go to ROSS.
In the last city I lived in there was a SAlvation Army Store and a VAlue Village about 7 blocks apart. talk about shopping heaven.
LikeLike
Hi. I buy lots of stuff at the Goodwill.
I got a dining table and chairs with a tile inlay, it was signed. I found out through research it was made in Norway. And I got it on 50% off furniture day! I love that place.
LikeLike
3 weeks left!! We got out last week and that was after making up a week of snow days! Amazingly we’ve already established our new pattern of sleeping until almost 9AM. If only it were that easy to change come fall.
LikeLike
You have no idea (i know you don’t) just how very like the Proverbs 31 woman you really are. I admire you. I aspire to be like “her” and like YOU!
love,
grace
LikeLike
Looks as though you had a lesson in sociology! Isn’t the human race so much fun to watch!?
I should try the retail therapy thing… problem is, then my money would disappear and I would need to go to therapy for that.
LikeLike
Ah, yes, the Northwest. The Value Village, the 60 degree weather and the school that runs so far into the summer you think it’s never going to end. The good old days! It’s good to get my “fix” after moving to TX in December.
LikeLike
I love the feeling of examining the racks alone. I too often end up having to take kids with me when I go shopping. That is never fun. I love the clearance racks at all the stores too. My daughter has all her pants for next winter already. LOL
LikeLike
I hadn’t thought of shopping as meditating, but I guess it’s true. I don’t like to “shop” as in it’s-Christmas-gotta-buy-something shopping, but I find browsing, or mindless shopping to be very relaxing. It’s interesting how you can kind of take in your surroundings, but also be isolated it in a way at the same time.
LikeLike
My sister and I love to garage-sale and go thrifting! 🙂 Any shopping will do, though, hehe. Sam’s often calls our name. 🙂
Melissa
LID 10/31/05
babyheaton.blogspot.com
LikeLike