Normally on Sunday or Monday I show you what great thrifty finds I got over the weekend, but this weekend was pretty much of a bust. Went to three, count it THREE, church sales and they were all disappointing. Oh well, it happens.
On the way home I ran across a garage sale that hadn’t been listed on Craigslist. It was manned by a very nice older gentleman. I use the term gentleman because he was well dressed for a garage sale. Dress pants, short sleeved dress shirt. No tie though, but definitely a step up from a dirty t-shirt and shorts.
Normally I can size up a garage sale in 10 seconds and get out quick if it doesn’t have anything I’m interested in. And there was not much that I was interested in at this sale. But this man was obviously bored, very talkative and such a sweet older man that I spent close to fifteen minutes talking to him.
I would have felt bad about just walking out of his sale not buying anything. So I bought this cookie tin for a quarter.
Did I mention he was a widower? And that his eyes lit up when he told me about how his wife had always made cookies at Christmas and put them in these tins for the neighbors?
It was a quarter well spent.
Linking with Southern Hospitality‘s Today’s Thrifty Finds and Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.
Ann@A Sentimental Life
very well spent! Glad you bought it so he knows it went to good home.
Stacey
Oh, that’s sad and sweet. 🙂
Sherry@Back2Vintage
Sometimes people are the best things about a yard sale…your story proves it!!!
a little love affair
Now you have a story behind that cookie tin! Enjoy!!
Crystal Rose Cottage
That is so sweet! He was letting go of memories and you were there to listen! Priceless!~Hugs, Patti
All That Glitters
This made me cry. I had the strangest things happen to me to me this weekend. Maybe I should tell?
Michele Smith
That is so sweet!
Cozy Little House
Yes, it bought you good karma worth a lot more than a quarter!
Brenda
Country Dreaming
What a sweet story. You’ll always remember him when you use the tin.
Melinda
Happier Than a Pig in Mud
Well spent indeed Pam! What kind of cookies you making? :@)
Olive Cooper
You are a darling and probably made his day. I love to talk to people at sales and probably lose some good stuff because of it but people before things!
Debby
So sweet of you to spend the time. You made his day.
Anonymous
Money and time well spent.
Sandy
What a touching story! I could feel how much he loved his wife and how sweet of you to spend some time with him re-living a memory.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
rockpaperscissors
You gave the gift of time and received a sweet reminder that someday we all will be in a place where our memories are a joy to share.
Recycled Rita
You probably made that man’s day, definitely worth the quarter! Thanks for visiting my blog! karen…
NanaDiana
That might have been the most generous quarter you ever spent. I think you added much more worth to the old gentleman’s life that day than anything else he might have sold. Blessings- you are a good soul! xo Diana
Jil Casey
I agree with all of the above. Wouldn’t that tin make a lovely vintage Christmas decoration too? I have a bunch of old Christmas tins that I put out, they look nice stacked with some fresh greens and figures.
Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky)
What a touching story of your yard sale find. Our 12yo youngest son is my garage sale buddy, and this weekend we only spent a quarter, too. He picked up a collectible Ertl pick up truck with logos of our local NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, team.
Pamela
Oh Pam I would have done the same thing!! You didn’t just buy a tin you bought a tin of memories!!
Kick the can was my favourite neighbourhood game!
Thanks for the memories!!
Anita
Pam, that is the sweetest thing!! Obviously it was meant to be. Thanks for stopping by! I think my white towels are the absolute worst towels I have too so that’s not making me like it any better, lol!!
High Street Cottage
Pam that is sweet. I’m sure that man appreciated the kindness in your engaging him in conversation. Many widowers and widows get very lonely. And the cookie tin has such a vintage feel. I’m sure you know already you can always paint it. Thanks for your kind comment on my injury, xxx tami