The Find
FoundOriginally uploaded by laundrylessons.
Under the laundry basket, under the rug, I make the find. Two socks. How long have they been lost? I’m not sure because I wasn’t looking for them. They appeared after I tidied the laundry room. When I make an unsuspected find its a bonus to my day. Sometimes my finds are more exciting than socks.
Last week I switched purses. There was no way I was carrying a brown leather hobo bag to Southern California. Digging in my closet I pulled out my pink tote. Inside I made wonderful finds: Twenty-three dollars, a Marshall’s gift card with $12.83 on it and two favorite lipsticks.
Finding something you weren’t looking for is a spontaneous treat. Our days are scheduled and we cross off appointments, meetings and tasks from our list with a rigid red pen. But find a Starbucks card under the car seat while you’re dropping all three kids at different after school activities and you feel like you’ve won the lottery. While packing for our vacation I found a shirt I bought on sale at the end of last summer. Never worn, brand new. Cool. It was like a secret shopper stocked my drawer.
Unexpected finds happen while shopping, too. At the Ralph Lauren outlet in California I found the perfect pink sweater. This was the sweater I’d searched years for. It was ninety degrees outside, not sweater shopping weather. But the find was the highlight of my shopping excursion.
The internet is the other place I make finds. Visiting a blog leads me to another blog, that leads me to a new friend. Searching for a new teapot, leads me to another surprise. A web site called The Find. No kidding. You can use this search engine and find any retail item and the stores that carry it. Locating stuff has never been easier. Although Googling creepy looking neighbors or searching for deals on designer jeans is simple, nothing beats the unanticipated joy when you move the laundry basket and find the silk sweater you thought the dry cleaner lost. I hope you find something today!
6 Responses to “The Find”
April 11th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Fun post, Kathy! I love that feeling of finding something new. Recently, I found a box of letters my mom had written to me when I was in college. She used to write me a letter every day, so I wouldn’t have to check my mailbox, only to find nothing.
I felt moved by something other than the day-to-day content of the letters — her handwriting was much stronger, more determined, more guiding than it is now. I’m sure she wrote more quickly then, too, corresponding daily with a couple of us in college/grad school at the same time.
She doesn’t do many things quickly anymore. In the time it used to take us to hit three stores and grab lunch, we now stop at one place with no lunch. Still, I think she and I will go shopping today.
Thanks for the boost, Kathy!
April 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Thanks for the fun post and for linking to TheFind! :o) I recently found a gift card for $12.86 at Marshall’s. What a strange coincidence. It was in a jacket pocket.
When I was in college, I would sell my books each semester and leave the money in my backpack so I could find it when the next semester started.
Take care,
Payton
April 13th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Great post! We once found several hundred dollars that we had hidden in a drawer! We were pretty happy about that!
You stopped by my blog and left a comment a couple weeks ago and I wanted to pay a return visit. I like your place! I’ve enjoyed reading here today! I’ll have to check out The Find!
April 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I love your website and I’m looking forward to reading more. I could sure use encouragement in the midst of laundry piles and dishes and household projects that never seem to end.
Michelle
April 15th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Kathy, congratulations on your website. You are a very capable young woman - didn’t we always know that!!
Best always,
lynn b.
PS Lucky you, to find the pink sweater you’ve been searching for - I’ve been looking for the same thing as my ancient one is falling apart. RL has such nice colors.
I really enjoyed your blog comments.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Kathy,
wonderful post. Love the connection between finding socks and all the other things. Each little thing has the power to change the course of the day! I LOVE, love, love finding money in pockets. Nothing beats that–even two bucks feels like a bunch more.