Second-hand things

I have a deep love affair with second-hand things. Whether it be clothes, books or jewelry, even CDs and furniture, I want it. Whenever I go back home to Ventura I get extremely excited to hit up the thrifts stores on Main Street. Though they may have silly names (Retarded Children’s Thrift Store, Battered Women’s Thrift Store), they have some beautiful, priceless finds.
One of my best purchases was a “gold” and black ring shaped into three lilies that consist of “diamonds” and hut the side of a smoky quartz stone. It’s beautiful and it only set me back about $10. My other best purchases are shoes. I wear a size 5 shoe, which is extremely small and not even carried by some stores, including Gap, my place of employment, nor thrift stores for the most part. Whenever I find a pair of shoes in my size at a thrift store I buy it. They are usually pretty cute (because they are small) and come in bright colors and stylish materials, like “hippie” leather, as I like to call it, or suede.
Another good buy are long skirts, which can double as a strapless dress, because the patterns of the fabric are usually pretty interesting and pretty pretty. I’ve also found some really nice leather belts and leather over-the-shoulder strap purses (one from Costa Rica even). All in all, thrift stores are the best stores because of their great deals ($2 outfits anyone?) and their pretty patterned finds.
My secondhand things don’t always come from thrift stores though. A lot of them come from my mom and grandma. The items from my mom are items that my sister and I share with each other. Two of my favorites from my mom are the Bruce Springsteen concert tee that says “Tramps like us…” on the front and “…baby we were born to run” on the back, and the white Bruce Springsteen crewneck sweatshirt with the lyrics to “Jungleland” on the front (and a black and red graphic in the background). But my absolute favorite hand-me-down from my mom is a short-sleeved, neutral-colored, plaid button-down shirt that she wore on her first date with my dad. Because it’s old and worn it’s unbelievably soft and comfortable.
My grandma, however, gives me the most beautiful costume jewelry I’ve ever seen. Big gold rings with big red stones and big fake diamonds weigh my hands down and make me feel really girly and old-fashioned (since they are from the ‘50s and all). My grandma has amazing style and every time I see her she has some new, beautiful piece of jewelry on that I ask if I can have when she dies. Yes, it’s a morbid question, but she doesn’t get offended and I get another beautiful object added under my name on her will.