Free Day

Friday, 9:00 pm 
My sister informs me she has a voicemail from my mom.

Friday, 9:30 pm
My sister returns call to said mom as she is leaving my house. My sister waives her hand in the air, giving me the "no big deal/not an emergency" signal. I still mouth to her, "what's up?!" She then mouths back "oh just good will stuff." I let it go, she and her husband are leaving my house, she is on the phone and out the door.  I can't get the details, but If my mom calls my sister and the subject is goodwill, something is up and I go to be a bit curious.


Saturday, 10:30 am.
My husband, my children, and I go down to river to check out the jet boat races. My husband calls my dad to join us. Perfect, I can discover the news. So after my dad visits awhile I dig in,
"Dad, what was mom calling Amy about last night?"
"Oh, she was just telling her about free day at St. Vincent DePaul, your mom came home with bags of stuff, tags still on some of them."
My mind explodes, free day?! What? I've never heard of a free day. Of course I haven't, I am new.

Saturday 1:00 pm
My curiosity finally takes over and I head down to St. Vinnies (as we affectionately call our local St. Vincent DePaul) and I discover a very much picked over store, but sure enough, waiting just for me, one pair of J. Crew sandals. I take them of course, who cares if they don't really work out because, they are free and they are J. Crew. I gather a few other items, thinking well if they don't fit or work out, I will just give them back. I rather nervously head to the check out, will I have to mention it's free day? I mean how do you check out, when it's supposed to be free?

Saturday, 1:45 pm
I am in the check out line when I realize they are taking coupons. I panic. Coupons? I don't have a "free stuff" coupon. Will I have to pay? What if I don't want to? Will they think I am a complete and total cheapo not wanting to give $2 to St. Vinnies, it's charity for crying out loud.

Saturday 1:50 pm
Much to my relief no coupon was necessary. Much to my surprise they do this EVERY YEAR, before school starts. Well guess who is marking their calendar to be checking in at St. Vinnies next year around late August?

Saturday 2:00 pm
Sitting in my car I am, once again, feeling a rush of accomplishment. So of course I picture text my find to my sister. I need, I suppose, an "atta girl" from the pro. Then I turn over the engine of my suburban, back out of the parking lot, and head over to the Goodwill store...because once your hooked, you're hooked.