Friday, October 22, 2010

Too Much Stuff

Gently used, previously loved, thrift store, flea market, second time around, are all names given to what we know as secondhand stores. I enjoy going to these places. The treasures are just waiting to be found. Armed with a list of specifics, I'm usually on a mission. Sometimes I do strike paydirt, but most of the time I just like the thrill of the "hunt".
As I make my way down the aisles, my writing muse kicks in. I wonder what stories those coffee mugs, shirts, picture frames, and the other miscellaneous items could tell. What personalities did the owners have? What were the reasons these items ended up in this store?
Going into these types of places begs the question-do we have too much stuff? Ride through your neighborhood. How many garages actually house the owners' cars? The few garages I've seen are stuffed to the gills with things. Maybe that's how someone came up with the idea of a thrift store. He had too much stuff and did not know what to do with it all.

2 comments:

  1. I too like thrift stores...I also wonder, if those second-hand items had personalities, how do they feel now? Do they feel like cast-offs, with no real purpose? Do they feel optimistic, because they have a second chance at being used?

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  2. Barb,
    I do the same thing. In fact I wrote a poem titled, Grandma's Stuff, after attending an estate sale. As far as thrift stores, I love them and say, Let someone else pay full price first time around; I don't mind seconds.

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