What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Super Cheap Thrift - The Best Trip Ever

Today The Breadman was off work due to the holiday, so I left the boys home and I went to straighten up my newest booth.  That booth happens to be in the very town of the Super Cheap Thrift, so of course, I had to go. I haven't been since before Thanksgiving.  The last time I was in there, I overheard people picking out Christmas presents in the aisles. I decided that I wouldn't go back until after Christmas and leave the items there for the people that really needed thrift store items to have a Christmas.  
The picture isn't that great, because the items are not the best part of this post.

Today I found a lot of very nice very well cared for vintage items.  I did notice that the SCT prices had gone up a bit, but they are still waaay cheaper than any other thrift around here.  I found 28 books for homeschooling, a book carrying bag, a sweet vintage beaded purse, vintage letter holder, two handmade doiley's, a vintage barometer, vintage cake decorating tool, fun set of huge flash cards that say KNOCK KNEES and CLAP HANDS, etc., a lovely vintage tablecloth with weather vanes on it. I also got the loveliest Wildenur rose tablecloth - absolutely perfect condition with eight matching napkins.  It was priced $10.00, and I hesitated and debated it, but then I decided to treat myself.  $10.00 for a Wildenur tablecloth is a very good price - but I rarely ever spend that much on something just for me.  Confident in my purchases, I went to get in line.

I unloaded my bag, the lady at the register punched the numbers into the cash register and another lady bagged my items.  They always chat about the items I buy - they say I find the neatest stuff.  When they came to the tablecloth, they commented on how pretty it was.  "I collect tablecloths and it will be one of my very best" I told them.  When they came to the books. they asked what I would do with them - "We homeschool", I said.  "We will use them for that".  And, with that, my purchases were complete, but the register still said "0.00".  I asked, "What is my total?" and they said, "The man behind you is paying for your items today."

Instant tears came to my eyes!  I've heard of random acts of kindness and I do a bit of them on my own, but this one really caught me off guard and threw me for a loop.  I went to thank him and shake his hand.  He shook my hand hard and said he was "Happy to do it."  The lady behind the register carried my packages to the door to meet me and she whispered that he had been there all day, paying for everyone's purchases.  I realized tonight that he actually did two very nice things for a lot of the people that shop at that thrift.  Most of them are shopping with vouchers so they not only got their items today courtesy of him, but they can go back and use their vouchers to acquire even more things that they need.  

I will always remember today's trip to the SCT today. I will always remember that nice stranger whenever I see my lovely tablecloth.  What a gift he gave me! 



11 comments:

  1. Wow! I think that is your best story yet. What a nice man! He definately is a proponent of random acts of kindness. I'm wishing only good things to happen to him and you for 2012!

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  2. That just sends chills up my back...how kind and wonderful to think of doing that for people in a thrift store. So many depend on it for clothing for their children and themselves. I am on a limited budget but still have some fun money to spend, so many don't. This makes me feel so good about mankind! Hugs, Linda

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  3. What a nice story. Awesome tablecloth and a way to remember a random good deed that will ALWAYS bring a smile.

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  4. What a wonderful thing to do.

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  5. How sweet of him to do that!

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  6. How sweet! Here is what happened to my niece a couple of weeks ago...

    After a horrible day, my niece went in drive through at McDonalds to get dinner. When she got up to the window to pay, she was told that it had already been paid by the car ahead. She burst into tears.

    The reason why the day was horrible was because she was returning from the hospital where her mother in law had been told she has lung cancer and has 6 weeks to live.

    People are wonderful!

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  7. What a wonderful thing to do. I have done some fun things like that before christmas but not quite to that level.
    have a happy new year
    Cathy

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  8. I love your blog! I'm late getting to this, but I've nominated you for a Liebster award -- check out my blog for the details.

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  9. That's just the nicest thing (and I thought it was really nice of you to not thrift for a few weeks to give people a chance to buy Christmas gifts.) What goes around....

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  10. what a sweet story. i love stories like this.. so happy for you.

    and your new wilendur with the matching napkins is fab. glad your new year is off to a terrific start.

    xo
    molly

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