I LOVE thrift stores. And yard sales.  And estate sales.   Oh, and flea markets!  It takes a lot to get me to go into a mall.  I dislike all the people milling around, having to walk 3,000 miles from my car just to get IN the mall.  Then, forgetting which lot I left said car in and having to walk another 6,000 miles just to find it.  It exhausts me.

Thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets – now this is something I can do for hours!  You never know what kind of treasure you’re going to find.  It’s the thrill of the hunt and the euphoria of the find when you actually score something awesome!

I spend a lot of my free time when I can carve it out in one of the above places.  And let me tell you, you can meet some characters in the places that I end up.  I overhead the following conversation between an elderly woman and her middle-aged daughter this past winter on one of my excursions.

The Mama:  Is it hot in here? (In a loud voice)

The Daughter:  No Mama.

Mama:  Oh Lord, it feels really hot in here. (waving her open jacket back and forth)

Daughter:  Mama, it’s not hot in here.

Mama:  Lordy, Lordy, Lordy!  It is so hot in here! (even LOUDER)

Daughter:  Mama, you need to calm down!  It is not hot in here!

Mama:  I can’t believe how hot it is in here.  I feel like I’m in HELL! (loudest voice yet)

Daughter:  Oh Mama.

Don’t you wish you could hang out with me!