When grocery shopping, I’ve gotten into the habit of bringing in my “green” shopping bags. I originally started using reusable ones when I first joined the Sisterhood, earning my first Merit badge by collecting the bags to go green. Easier to carry groceries in, the bags act as coupons as well, as the store deducts five cents off my total for each one. I’d amassed a collection of about twenty the past year. Most of them were “freebies” I received with purchases, or that I had paid a dollar or two for; none were homemade or that pretty. Imagine my surprise several weeks ago when someone stole them! What happened afterwards, surprised me even more.
Oh my goodness my sister and I can relate to your reusable bags – we had gone shopping – she had the bags in her cart – she too turned to look at something – turned around and GONE were the bags – thankfully years ago we learned to attach our purse either by the child restraint strap or by a quick click clip – so her purse was not taken. We too would have shared if the person had just asked – we don’t always shop where one gets money for using the reusables – so it wasn’t like they were worth anything at that store. Anyway now we attach our bags as we do our purses. Also thanks for the reminder to be a FRIEND – I’m getting into making more cards and I will for sure use the verse you found on a card. Thank you ‘friend’ you joyed my week.
Joan, Thank you so much for reading! Wow – you had your bags stolen, too! Just never know what is going on in someone’s life to make them do what they do. I love to make homemade cards, too. Isn’t that just such a lovely verse? -Nicole
This is such a heartening story! Thank you for sharing it. I am going to make sure all my friends know how much I appreciate them this week!
I, too had bags stolen out of my grocery cart. Luckily, they only took half. I thought, at least they won’t be using those icky plastic bags!
Today, my youngest daughter and two young women from work and I went out to lunch. Afterwards, we sat in rocking chairs outside the restaurant and just talked. I was thinking to myself that everyone is always so busy that we don’t just sit and talk with each other enough. I’m in my fifties but these young women are all just starting out. So I told them that I’m going to invite them over just to sit on my porch for lemonade, cookies and rocking.
Joy, isn’t it so true? If you lived in Connecticut, I’d come! I love to sit on my porch with ice tea or lemonade and cookies, rocking! Such a simple joy! -Nicole
Those plastic bags can be valuable…lol. I have made rugs, or better yet, large bags that are wonderful for carrying wet bathing suits or other things. Durable, strong, washable, but it takes many of them to make one item. Bet that is why you lost yours to someone…..now that is recycling at its best…:)..Tauna
Great post, Nicole! And I’m glad that the farmgirls all pulled through for you. 🙂 Friends are fabulous and its so nice to see the farmgirl connection helping like minded ladies connect!!
Sorry about your bags getting taken! I have some favorite bags I used all the time when I go shopping. I will keep a close eye on them in my cart. I will send you some more animal related ones. Thanks for the column. Thanks for keeping in touch even if it is a quick text message.
Miss you! Rose
-Miss you, too, Rose! Hugs! -Nicole
It is truly amazing- both the badness of people in the world in general and yet the goodness of a few can truly turn around the bad feelings and help us to put on our "thinking caps" and learn from it. I was sorting out a bunch of things that were passed on to me and found a couple nice bags-one canvas and another leather-like. I decided that I would use the leather like one to store my shopping bags in and when I go to the store, toss in my small purse and just carry the whole thing as my purse (attaching it to the buggy of course!. Perhaps it won’t be so obvious until after I get to my turn at the check out line. I too often try to think that if I loose something in a public place, the person who found it and kept it must have needed it much worse than I did. It helps the frustration levels to go down considerably!!!
Jennifer, thanks for reading. I believe there is still so much more good in the world than bad. It’s hard times that bring out the worst in people, but also bring out the best. -Nicole
Nicole you hit it again always true and interesting.Dad
Since you’re a knitter, here’s a way to turn lemons into lemonade: Take your plastic (ugh) bags, cut them into strips and make ‘plarn’ by joining the loops together (the way you’d join two rubber bands together), then knit (there are also crocheted bags) the ‘plarn’ into re-usable bags. Here’s a website that has instructions: Vhttp://www.allfreecrafts.com/knitting/bag.shtml
Elizabeth, what a great way to use up those bags! Love it! Thanks for sharing! Will try it. -Nicole
This was such an inspirational story, I quickly sent 5 emails (sorry, at work) to friends that I think of and just don’t get to tell them … thanks!
The forum is a brighter place thanks to your posts. Thanks!