I don’t go thrift shopping as much as I would like, but I do go about twice a year which, coincidentally, coincides with every time my dad comes to town. You see, my dad is a thrift store junkie. An addict. And he’s done it as long as I can remember.

Some of my first memories are of him holding my hand strolling the aisles of every consignment, thrift, and second hand store he could find in the phone book. I loved it. I was a little girl who adored her daddy and wanted to spend every single second with him, not to mention the promise of ice cream that waited for me after we discovered all our special treasures someone else didn’t want. Chocolate malt for him. Bubblegum on a sugar cone for me.

It was an adventure.

As I grew into all things teenager, I became incredibly impatient with the whole process. I didn’t hold his hand anymore and I would sigh and roll my eyes every time he picked up a brass candle stick or pair bookends to explain their art deco lines or the decade they were made. And we didn’t get ice cream anymore. I had places to go. I had friends to see. But we still went, at least once a month. And deep down, I guess I still wanted to go. It was our thing.

And it still is.

I only see my dad a few times a year these days. 1,200 miles and our busy lives separate us. But my dad came to visit for an entire week last week and the first thing out of his mouth after I picked him up from the airport: “Are we going thrift store shopping?”

So one day, while the boys were in preschool, my 70 year dad and I went to every consignment, thrift, and second hand store I could find in my iPhone. I was a girl again who adored her daddy who wanted to spend every single second with him. And we strolled the aisles hand in hand. And I listened happily while he explained the details behind the two paintings he purchased.

And then he bought ice cream. Chocolate malt for him. Bubblegum on a sugar cone for me.

 It was an adventure.

P. S.  And hey! If you ever want super cool stuff – go to the thrift store.  Look at what I found that I totally wish I could have tied to the top of my car and brought home.