Love of the Pre-Loved

I don't know what it is about other people's stuff, but I am VERY interested in it.  It's wierd, because my sister is totally grossed out at the thought of having something that someone else once used, someone SHE DOESN'T KNOW.  And my husband hates going to thrift stores with me, claiming the smell alone turns him off.  But for me, it is an addiction, a pasttime, a PASSION.  Garage sailing, thrift shops, auctions: they are glorious and exciting treasure hunts for me.  I don't know WHY the used appeals to me so much, maybe it's my love of a good bargain, or the thought that something amazing is waiting for me.  To understand my interest in all things used, perhaps it helps to say that I am jealous of Ottawa's garbage collection service.  Apparently real people still pick up the city's trash, instead of machines, which allows it's citizens to leave ANYTHING outside to be picked up and taken away to the dump.  My heart turns with sadness at the thought of the junky furniture and other bits being hauled away, when I could so easily rescue those strays and restore them to greatness, if only I lived a little bit closer...  I got to garage-sailing for an hour this past Friday.  It's always such a triumph to find one or two little things that catch my eye.  I got a blue glass bowl ($1.00),  muffin tins (50 cents!!), and a couple boxes of old envelopes and cards.  Every now and then my Grandpa (maybe it's genetics -he is a total garage sale enthusiast.  the man can BARGAIN) finds me some awesome vintage cards, and the ones I got on Friday are very similar.  I love the frilly edges, the old-fashioned illustrations, and the font of the writing.  I wish they had dates on them, but all they say on the back is "Lithod in Canada."  Don't suppose anyone has a clue about dating old cards??


Only 4 more days and I get to go sailing again....
M.