It’s Owl Good

I love owls.

But it’s not often that I have the opportunity to write about them, let alone cross paths with them, on assignment.

However, a few months ago, I stopped dead in my tracks, mid-assignment. I had been looking at thrift store shelves and the treasures they held, all day, in between interviews with shoppers and dedicated thrift shop managers. At my third and final destination, there they were: Two beautiful owls, staring back at me, begging to come home with me.

Well, not really… because I certainly don’t need more “things to dust” or “things” in general, but the fact that they popped up on my path that day seemed like a sign, that they were meant to be mine. And isn’t that what thrifting is all about? One man’s trash is another one’s treasure.

Not only did these sweet owls come home with me, but they roosted on my fireplace mantle through the fall, and I didn’t have the heart to remove them for Christmas, so they simply stayed. Whoooo would argue with that?

Truth be told, I love thrift shopping. I ususally go with a mission in mind, but you never know what you’re going to find. And sometimes those surprises are unpredictably wonderful.

Turns out, I’m far from alone in my thrifty habits, as I learned while writing, “The Thrill of the Thrift,” for the debut issue of Celebrate Hanover magazine. More than 25,000 resale and consignment shops are scattered across the United States, according to the Association of Resale Professionals. Combined with online resales, the secondhand industry’s annual revenue is $53 billion—and it’s projected to reach $82 billion by 2026, accounting for 20% of the clothing industry by 2031, according to CNBC.

Thrifting’s appeal is multi-facted. Beyond the bargain prices, it’s a sustainable option that often supports a nonprofit cause as well–as is the case with the three stores included in my story.

And an exciting note about Celebrate Hanover: It’s a brand new magazine, a spin-off from highly-successful, neighboring Celebrate Gettysburg magazine by owner and creative director Jessica Dean. I’m honored to write for this sister publication! At a time when many local news outlets are sadly closing, it’s refreshing and hopeful to be part of a new start-up. Local journalism is vital.

In the headlines… My additional, recently-published articles include:

Meet Patricia Green Rodgers, who has launched a one-woman campaign to welcome Black visitors to Gettysburg, in “Building Bridges,” Celebrate Gettysburg, Nov/Dec 2023.

“Busy As Bees: Meet the entrepreneurial family behind York’s newest coffeehouse,” Susquehanna Style, December 2023

Continuing with the foodie theme:

“A League of its Own: Gettysburg Eddie’s,” Celebrate Gettysburg, Jan/Feb 2024, with a fun baseball connection.

“Raise a Glass–Really–at The Coffin Bar,” Susquehanna Style, January 2024.

“Indoor Adventures,” Philly MetroKids, Dec/Jan 2024, with fun family inspo for these cold winter months.

And we began this newsletter with birds (owls), so we’ll wrap up with a bird as well – the image of the mythical phoenix. “Like a Phoenix,” Celebrate Gettysburg, Jan/Feb 2024 profiles Alli Crowell, a woman who, after experiencing several fluke accidents that turned her life upside-down, discovered a healing path that gave rise to a new career helping others with Traumatic Brain Injuries.

And one last note about thrifting: I purchased one additional treasure, during my reporting, a llama-shaped mug that I recognized as a Natural Life product, one of my favorite brands. It retails for $17 and I snagged mine for $2. And as I enjoyed a cup of tea one day, I realized it also bears an uncanny resemblance to my dog! Using it always makes me smile, and I hope this photo brightens your day as well.