Tuesday, August 11, 2009

A SCRAPPER IS A SCRAPPER


Yesterday I had to go to the Post Office to mail out a pattern order to England. (I mention that just to impress you). This Post Office is in a little shopping strip, and next door was a small thrift store. I had a few minutes to spare, so I decided to go in and browse. I am always drawn to the dishes and they had a big wall of shelves full of dishes. I picked up a little pie dish and held on to it. Then I saw a little silver tray by Oneida and thought of all the silver I received as wedding gifts and never used. I spotted a silver casserole just like one I once had, all tarnished and unattractive. How sad. Where did mine go?

"Oh look!" I say to myself, "I had dishes just like these that I tried to sell at a garage sale last summer!" Funny how one's mind races from "I should buy this" to "wait a minute, I got rid of this"! Further searching of the shelves found many of the same dish pattern scattered around in no particular order. "Well for heaven's sake, they aren't even arranged together. This is a terrible sales approach!" By this time I am having quite a conversation with myself. "Why are these dishes not selling? These are cute dishes! I only got rid of them because my daughter has some Fly Lady approach to streamlining, and my dishes fell into her path. And then, the ultimate realization: "These are my dishes"!

The thing is, they didn't sell at my garage sale, and now I found them cast off by Goodwill, and still sitting on the shelf at a thrift store that isn't even a major name thrift store. A little part of me is feeling rejected.

After the garage sale last summer my daughter boxed up all the leftovers (after I fled the scene) and she immediately drove them to Goodwill. Sometimes it is difficult parting with things, even though it is the logical thing to do. "I might need that later on", I think.
I do the same thing with all those fabric scraps. "I know I can use that", so it gets saved in a box with others of its kind. I think if you are a scrapper, that logic prevails in other aspects of your life.
But how many remnants does one need, whether they be dishes or fabric or something else? This question remains unanswered. But one thing I do know. Sometimes we have trouble letting go, even when it makes perfect sense to do so.

16 comments:

Karen said...

My question is, did you buy the dishes back?

Carin said...

I wanted to know that too Karen.

paulette said...

Oh I hear you loud and clear!! My question is - did you buy the dishes -if not then what's the name of the thrift shop? They would go great with my 'new' gravy boat (see my today's blog) ha ha
Paulette

Anonymous said...

Oh do I ever hear you!
This reminds of a horrible story that really did happen years ago in miliary overseas. A friend's SIGNED pottery pieces showed up at a flea market! Here is the kicker...she was moving and the packers already packed up her stuff a month prior to her leaving. She went to a flea market just for kicks and an outing and low and behold there was her pottery, signed and everything! The packers stole it!!

Quilter Kathy said...

I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes is it totally illogical and all emotional. Sometimes I can't even verbalized why I need to keep something...it's crazy!

Carol said...

So did you buy your dishes? I can see how you would feel rejected by the fact that nobody wanted to buy them but you know they were just there waiting for you come get them and take them back home.

Julie-Ann said...

I love those dishes! I have a soft spot for china, too.

It's not only material things we have a hard time letting go of. I'm taking a personal inventory these days and there is a whole of of stuff I need to clear off of my "inner shelves!"

Deelee said...

It's amazing how many emotions and memories we attach to items. I am so guilty of that! I've gotten better in the past few years. Actually the TV show Clean Sweep really helped me work through getting rid of things and being ok with it. It sounds silly but true. Now I always have a Goodwill bag to fill. It doesn't keep me from visiting antique shops though!

Lindah said...

Ouchie! You're stepping on my toes. :-) I'm trying to declutter, but it is hard. Yep, I might need it. I could do such-and-such with it, etc.
By the way, did you buy back the dishes? :-)

dianne said...

ha ha ha! i can SO relate ... a looong time ago i put some jeans into the ARC bag, just knowing that i would never be able to fit into them again ... my oldest daughter was thrift store shopping with her friend and they bought my jeans (i know because there was an ink stain in a particular spot) - she ended up giving them back to me after i lost a bunch of weight ... and i wore them out! and then, of course, i puffed out again ... but still, i hear you!

Rose Marie said...

I have been purging for the last 5 years and it is hard. There is an item that I gave away and am now kicking myself for doing so and I want it back. Sigh ... but we have to do it .... we all have too much stuff and really, in the end, do we need these things?

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

It is hard to get rid of things, but it just leaves you with more room for new things that you love even more.

Libby said...

Why is it so hard to let go? Still it seems like I have the question on everyone's mind - did you buy the dishes back? I think that you found them may have been a sign *s*

Lea said...

OoooH, Marcie, I *LOL*!!! Gee, You are very good writer,I always think so. Quilter's Newsletter Magazine should hire you as a columnist.*S*

Jeanne said...

Great post, Marcie. I can see myself in that one. I used to do bazaars. At some point, I would see some of the things I made showing up at garage sales. Ouch!

quiltmom anna said...

It would be hard for me to have left those dishes in the thrift shop- I have gone to a pottery sale and bought pieces that I made when I took classes there and never picked up. It was kind of nice ( other than paying for my own work)
Things are just things but I believe we let go of them when we are ready ( sometimes when forced too) but better when we are ready to let go.

I loved your border on your new post _ I am writing backwards LOL
I especially like the stars in the border.
Happy Quilting,
Regards,
Anna