I have gone through a maze, because I could not get comment box; God helps! I so enjoyed your remarks about thrift shopping, because it has been my entertainment, my therapy, my filling grandchildren with toys at my house which are new to them, but I am definitely a larger size — Popped out after menopause, so I do not find new clothes, but lots of people like you do, and how very glamorous you look. Some things are like the black dress, every woman needs a couple — Dress up; or dress it down, but you obviously have a good eye as well as figure.

I have a rule that I must share with you though, for when I go to these stores, I see people who are debating the affording of things which I just think nothing of purchasing whatever I want == So I thought to myself, this should be their place/places, not mine, that is until I had a Divine thought. At least twice a year — sometimes more, the unused things go out, and my self ruleu is, I must give my good things as well as things which I have lost an eye for. I do not care if it has the shopping tags on it — Out it goes. I endeavor to send items such as sheets, hairconditioner which comes with every color I play with, towels and wash cloths. If our closets are bulging, then we do not need. I hit the kitchen, one too many spices, out it goes, and because we transfer our locations; Food nearing expiration in cans goes as well.

I get so many fragrances and cosmetics, and I am very cleanly, have no disease process on board, so I love the store that will let people choose something opened for free. Picky woman that I am, I just open my heart, and usually, I am sending out more than I have brought in. The California place just has poor closet space, and a lot of what is here; the kids left, so if I can recycle old papers, then once more I recycle whatever I can. I do a lot of catalog ordering, and may order the same size again and again, but I will swear things will come in with the body part fitting great, but the arms too tight. I do not send it back, because someone is going to be thrilled with what I cannot wear. I am a giving fool, but it cuts down on housekeeping, and I find surprises — Clothes which I bought, and I have forgotten, and sometimes they make me feel so nice. I try very hard not to insult the poor with my garbage!

My Mama did not know about such stores, and we were desparately poor in my youth, so I know what people need. I even look through the kitchen for an overstock or duplication of pots and pans. In San Francisco, furniture we cannot use does go out for anything we replace, and most times it disappears before the morning. The West coast seems to practice this principle far more than we did back in Cincinnati. A lot of the thrift stores there seem so raided by resale shops, and those people should be kept out, for they will take the best of everything. I will not go to the picker’s shops, for I see them waiting for the carts to roll out, and poor folks do not have a chance.

I believe that I have resolved my guilt complex, and I am surely helping people along the way. If we each would do therapeutic house cleaning, not dumping it in the trash — The richer folks policy, for they do not want trash scattered, and they have a fear of broken privacy, but if we could just get this going all over this country, then we would have a chance of serving those who need, and better still, we glorify a generous God, for all we have and do not make the poor feel as if they are begging. Magazines and books are a nice addition, and FGS throw in a bottle of dishsoap, that shampoo you wanted to try, some deodorant and cologne — I firmly believe we are our brother’s keeper, and if we think what we use everyday and make one bag of general necessities, then it is an outrageous and wonderful act of love.

I am glad to see we have some in common, and thrift shopping is as good as it gets for the occasional joy; Better still is the joy of giving back.

Love, and Best Wishes,
Barb

Barbara Everett Heintz, Author of, “Pinkhoneysuckle,” Amazon, Kindle Ready, Create Space. Summer Book Festival Awards 2012 For This Book, The Years of one woman growing up and coming of age during mid-century Southern Appalachian Diaspora, Moving a population north from small farms, a well kept American secret which destroyed an humble way of life.