The Leftovers

Now that the holiday madness is subsiding, life is settling back to its routine. The thrift stores shelves are too, but before they can be restocked with the usual weirdness, the leftover Christmas decor must go.

So, although the shelves resemble more of the Land of Misfit Toys than a treasure trove, you can purchase it all for half off.

Right now it feels like a stand off between the thrift store and the shopper, as if we MUST buy the last of the holiday stuff before they'll let us see anything new (which will be old, but you know what I mean). As demonstrated by the bare shelves at one of my favorite spots.

But I do not want to buy this strange boy with his tongue sticking out holding a blue mallet. I have no idea what his story is or what he has to do with Christmas.

These two look like they are commiserating over being left behind. The angel might be trying to hook up with the Shepard, but he seems way more attached to his sheep.

I did not buy them, even at half off.

I do feel a little bad for these unwanted items. I myself feel like a bit of a leftover after the craziness of the Christmas season. 

My usually quiet house was filled with my kids back from college, their friends coming and going, decorations, a stomach virus, neighborhood parties and random spontaneous cooking for a crowd. 

Then all of the sudden...done...decorations away, kids heading back to college, and quiet descends again.

I kind of feel like this woman sitting in the middle of my house holding deflating balloons wondering what the hell just happened.