I’d seen the shop before. It was across the street from a large thrift store but never looked appealing enough to check out. It looked like a small one room store and I figured it would just have a few picked over items.
I decided to go there.

I was looking for Reader’s Digest Condensed Novel books. I stepped into the store. Hundreds of books lined shelves and filled the wall space. The lady at the register kept casually chatting with a couple of other women sitting nearby. She’d speak kindly and lightheartedly with them. I listened as I began my book search.
Halfway through the bookshelves I looked up and realized there was another room. I looked into it. There were 2 more rooms after that. Tons more books lined the walls of two of the rooms. I found about 5 RD books in the first room.
Then I asked the lady if she ever has a sale on the books. I really didn’t want to pay more than 50 cents per book. She said yes and then told me all the hardback books were 25 cents and the paperback books were 10 cents! Goodness! Okay, my RD discoveries were not in vain. 25 cents was the super cheap price I was looking for. The lady told me the organization of the books was random. They were put there by handicapped people. She said I would just have to look.
Not a problem. I needed to look through all the books anyway. I’ve always loved books. And over the years and because of my husband’s love for books, I knew the best books to buy. So I probably spent a couple of hours getting lost in this little hidden away treasure house.
I even liked the idea of the handicapped people around. If they acted a little odd it didn’t matter. When I would talk to them they were kind and would work hard to carry on a conversation with me even if I couldn’t understand what they were saying! The place was full of books, nic-nacs, dishes and clothes. By the time I checked out I had found 35 RD books. I loved it.
I came back the next day. And the next day. And the next day. And if I remember correctly, the next day too!
I’m trying to be cautious and not just buy anything but only the best books that I know I could use.
Henry David Thoreau, author of the reflective book Walden in the 1800’s said it beautifully when he said, That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.