I never used to go to thrift stores. I’m not proud to say that I looked down on them. It seemed we all did. (Not my grandma though. Ahead of her time perhaps, she loved a good garage sale.)

With time, knowledge, a little luck and grace, I, we, gained a new perspective. Now I love it — thrifting. Searching for that golden ticket. The treasure. And this trip to the US, I found several. Two t-shirts (both Alexandria Cardinals – gotta represent!), and two pants. Score!

Yesterday, wearing one of each, I took some photos in the garage. Pairing my paintings with some of Dominique’s old tools. I thought the combination was beautiful. Diamonds and rust, as the song says.

That’s the funny thing about beauty, it changes, if you are open to it. Want to see it. And oh, how I want to see it. And it occurred to me, the best way to see it, to allow yourself to be knocked off balance by something new, is to have the assuredness of love around you. Those people you can count on. Those people who will love you, no matter what you are wearing. Who will love you through trends and times of sorrow, and times of success. Steady. True. Love.

If you have this, and oh how I hope you do (I wish it for everyone), then use it as the weighted treasure it is, to balance yourself as you create new things, discover new things, as you reach for the beauty that swirls all around you!