Today Kat, Chas and I took a walk down from Court Street to the boardwalk that runs along the Brooklyn Navy Terminal and provides a view of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge & the seaport... It was such a beautiful day for walking and we were so greatful that the rain stopped for a day. We bought some snacks and went to sit down by the water and talk and eat. Brooklyn Heights is such a nice area. Chas daydreamed the entire time about scoring an apartment there. It really is an ideal neighborhood. I love my neighborhood, but it just isn't as close to Manhattan as Brooklyn Heights.
When we were walking along we came by an apartment where the inhabitant had laid a huge pile of books along their walkway for anyone to take for free. I found three books and put them in my purse. Kathleen found one she liked too and stuck it in her purse. We continued to walk. Next we came upon an apartment where the inhabitant had laid some nice looking items of clothing out along their fence for anyone to take for free. Kathleen and I each found a thing we liked and added it to our "loot". We continued to walk. A couple hours later, when we were walking back from the boardwalk, we came upon an apartment where the inhabitant had put a big bag of clothes by the trashbin in front and another pile of clothes on top of the trashbin. This group of free items were not as appealing because they were with the trash, but I convinced Kathleen that we should rummage anyway while Chas stood back watching with disbelief and begging us that we had enough. I found about ten or fifteen fabulous items that this person had thrown out. I honestly felt like I'd just been shopping.
So we stopped at a bodega and got a bag for all of our stuff and brought it home and threw it all in the washer with a generous helping of laundry detergent and voila! New stuff. I'm glad I don't have any shame. Many people who don't have so much would swallow their pride to pick through someone else's throwaways, and on this particular day, that was me. Ain't too proud...and it was worth it.
There were these two older ladies walking along as we were rummaging and one of them stopped to rummage with us as some of the things she saw us holding in our hands piqued her interest. Her walking companion implored her not to touch the vile seconds that someone had left outside their apartment, but the lady could not be deterred. She began picking through the small mounds of shoes and clothing, which all looked well taken care of, if not a bit musty...Her companion began to shout saying "if you touch that stuff you are not coming back into my house! I won't have it in my house!" I was kind of giggling, and the lady who wanted to rummage giggled and we all found it funny except for the lady who was standing there shouting "not in my house you won't!!! Well, then if you won't stop, then I am leaving you!" She even went so far as to say "I'm not going to be your friend anymore!" The fellow rummager replied with "so? Go." And so the shouting lady did. She stalked away, fuming, as we stayed and dug for treasure.
All day, I have felt like I was walking on sunshine. And that was like icing on the cake. I felt like it was a wonderfully lucky day and I came home with so many fun prizes. Call me crazy. Call me baglady. It's all good. Because I'm happy (and a little bit humbled)!
Posted by Maria at June 8, 2003 05:06 PM | TrackBackMaria
thanks for taking me on your day, it sounded lovely. I think if I ever met you in person I would adopt you and I hope that my 10yr old daughter can grow up to be as well rounded as you...I think you are marvelous.
Oh Sandy! That is the nicest thing for you to say to me. Thank you so much. I think you're marvelous too. A one of a kind. :)
Posted by: Maria at June 8, 2003 07:54 PMhey..I'm cleaning out my garage today..want some junk? haha..actually Ailey is giving me a hard time..she is a packrat, she won't let me throw anything away...I'm gonna have to give her money and send her to the skating rink to get this done..haha
Posted by: sandy at June 10, 2003 09:49 AMI always want old stuff. I used to get up at 5:00 in the morning to go to yard sales so I wouldn't miss all the good stuff. My bedroom looked like a second hand store. I had old dresses hanging on the wall and size 5 and 6 shoes that would never fit on my size 8 feet, but I would line them up on shelves because they were so old and pretty looking. When I moved to NY I had to leave many a box behind chock full of all my treasures. I miss all that stuff...:(
Posted by: Maria at June 10, 2003 10:29 AMI have a pair of silk thigh high pantyhose with the line up the back..my granny said during the war silk was hard to get..she stood in line for hours for these things. They're still in the origianl box and fancy tissue paper. I don't know why she never used them but they're one of my favorite treasures. I've been the keeper of my familys history after she died. Well for one thing, I took everything..photos, newspaper clippings, her hairnets (don't ask) Nobody else seemed interested. I didn't want furniture or that crap..I wanted the things that meant enough for her to keep hidden in boxes, makes me feel good when I drag that stuff out. I have all of her handmade aprons, last year my Aunt Betty called and asked if I had them? I said, "No" Maybe this is wrong, but my granny practically raised me and those hens never came around and when she was in the nursing home, I left Jason to stay w/her, I watched her die and my family said, it was just too hard, they couldn't handle it..so fuck em..I got Frances treasures and so am not sharing..wow..that came out of nowhere..I got issues..I really need to get a job..haha..
Posted by: sandy at June 10, 2003 11:21 AM