Goodwill

On my way home this evening, well, actually mid-afternoon, I ran some errands in town. Post Office. City Building. Beers-R-Us. Along the way I happened to drive by the local Goodwill store. Now let me first say that I think the concept of Goodwill is awesome. I can get rid of anything that I no longer want or need and someone can purchase it for close to nothing. I once heard a comedian talk about giving his shirts to Goodwill, going to the store a few days later and buying them back. They’re cleaned, ironed and on hangers and all for two bucks. It’s cheaper than the local dry-cleaner. Anyway, as I drove by the Goodwill Store I noticed that they were prominently displaying wedding dresses.

The entire anecdote could end right there with ‘wedding dresses’, without any further comment. So, if while reading this you find yourself amused, you may as well stop right here. However, if you’re interest on a few different takes on this unusual storefront display then read on!

First of all, let’s discuss the concept of having to purchase a used wedding dress. Most of the women that I have talked to in the months before their wedding always seem to be trying to find the right dress at the right price. I’m sure all brides want a dress that has tiny diamonds hand sewn into the lining with silk that came from the rarest of worms. But hey, everyone can’t afford quite a dress – that’s just the way it is.

Secondly, there may be women who are confused about the ‘something borrowed, something blue’ concept. It could very well be that they think it goes ‘something borrowed, something used.” If that’s the case, then buying a dress at the Goodwill Store makes perfectly good sense and fulfills a wonderful tradition.

And finally, the biggest problem I have with a wedding dress is the fact that for most women it is the most expensive article of clothing they will ever buy, they wear it once and then they put it into storage. I understand holding on to things. I have numerous books of various ages that I never read but keep on the shelf anyway. I have a very large collection of baseball cards that I may go through every once in a while, but generally they just sit in boxes. But I still have a problem with keeping a dress. Because I could read any book again and I could enjoy sorting through some baseball cards. But the dress just sits in a box with mothballs. Of course, if a woman displayed her dress on a mannequin in the living room it would be a bit disturbing. I hope to pass my books and cards on to children, whether they’re mine or not. I know many women hope to pass on their dress to their daughter someday, but I don’t know any daughter that has worn their mother’s dress. Maybe it’s just a guy thing, but I just don’t get holding on to the dress.

Especially if someone else of lesser means may be able to benefit from it.