For her birthday last weekend, I took my daughter to our local barn sale. It's the kind of mad shopping event that happens only once a month, presumably because it takes that long for the dust to settle and for the weirdly cool collection of vintage curiosities to accumulate.
It’s a delightful treasure trove of things that make you question not just your taste, but your sanity. You know the kind: where the charm is as questionable as the origin story of each piece. Who knew that someone once thought a horseshoe cowboy wearing nothing but chaps was a good idea?
We love to wander through this chaotic cornucopia of macabre tchotchkes, oddly alluring accoutrements and vintage furniture that look like they could tell some wild stories — if only they could talk, or perhaps whisper, “Help me!”
I swear, I could stroll around that barn three or four or seven times, and every lap would reveal something new, like a scavenger hunt hosted by a particularly quirky relative.
Now, let’s be honest: there’s a thrill in stumbling upon some dusty relic that no one else wanted. It’s like finding a long-lost friend at a high school reunion—if that friend was Star Trek Barbie with her very own Tricorder.
Sometimes, these forgotten treasures spark a nostalgic memory or ignite a creative flame. Other times, they simply provoke a hearty laugh, like a surprise comedy act in the middle of your day.
And let’s not forget the sheer joy of escaping the daily grind—away from the office, the studio, or the never-ending pile of laundry. It’s refreshing to dive headfirst into discovery mode, just for the sake of it.
Plus, there’s that wonderful mother-daughter bonding time. My daughter and I are creating memories together, like two explorers on a mission to uncover the world’s most bizarro knick-knacks.
Oh, and did I mention we scored a few delightfully geeky birthday gifts for her? Not to brag, but I also treated myself to a lovely Talavera tray — because let’s be real, if you can’t pamper yourself while treasure hunting, what’s the point? It was a win-win!
Next month I'm going back for the horseshoe cowboy 🤠. Love those chaps.
0 comments