Sometimes when you're out thrifting, you find things that are so perfect for someone, that it makes your entire day.
Last Saturday, I was out and about, yard saling with one of my favorite thrifting friends, and one of those serendipitous moments occurred, right there in a driveway in sweet little Camas. (we may have edged over to Vancouver, but I am pretty sure it was Camas.)
I think we spotted it at the exact same moment, and, at first glance, neither of us were overly impressed. It was some sort of football figurine...or maybe a novelty telephone I thought. Wait, it had a sticker on it explaining itself. It was a "snack server" according to the tag. There was a small black button on it.
I pushed the button and it loudly played a bit of the NFL theme Song as the top third of the football swung open and there was a cavity to store treats.
They wanted five dollars for this little gem, which in yard sale dollars seemed ca-razy high to both of us, and I was having an unusually cheap frugal moment, so I thought I would take a pass (heheh, did you catch my little football pun?) on it, and so did my Patriots loving friend. After checking out the rest of the driveway, we meandered our way back to the car, and got in. At that moment I came to my senses, and decided I should maybe offer the kid in the driveway three bucks for it. My partner-in-crime agreed, saying she too was having second thoughts over the musical mechanical football themed treat server.
She waited in the car and watched me as I went back up the driveway to negotiate. The kid said he'd have to ask his Mom, who was in the house. He came back out and said she would take four dollars. Should I do it? I motioned to my thrifting adviser. She nodded her approval, and I said "deal".
Come to Mama.
This little ode-to-Sunday-football was mine.
I scampered back to the car, my treasure in hand. Once inside the car, we opened and closed it a few times to listen to one of the sweetest tune any football fan could hear, and marveled at the quality of the piece.
I knew exactly what i was going to do with this little guy. I stopped for groceries later on my way home, and picked up a few packs of Hot Tamales candy.
Once home, I wrapped them up in a couple of book pages and made the perfect tag to coordinate. (You know those homemade tags are my thing.) and set it on the coffee table for my Rock n' Roll Buddy, who was coming by later. (Oh! The presentation was perfect!)
The magic of this gift was not lost on him, as he listened to the music. Of course we filled the cavity with the hot tamales and enjoyed pushing the button.
This little candy dish will be pulled out each Sunday during football season as part of his weekly ritual, I have no doubt. Cheesey? Maybe to some, but part of what makes a thing a perfect gift is simply knowing your audience, and I can tell you, this little surprise was spot on.
