Should I be concerned?

Ok, so since January I've been visiting the local thrift shops and Salvation Armies pretty regulary to pick up costumes (60 kids, each needs at least two costumes...eek!).

Some of the staff are starting to know me, which is a little distressing in itself, as some of the other "regulars" who are there at 10am are a little odd to say the least. But whatever, we're family now. United in $1.50 t-shirts and $3 shoes.

However, even more distressing for me is when I get a new cashier who assumes that the ARMLOADS of bizarre clothes that I pile on the counter are for personal use.

I know they're just being polite, but when they say things like "oh, this will be cute on you" about the butter yellow vest with the bright blue pocket handkerchief, or the shimmery purple satin shirt with velvet tips, I'm understandably concerned. I often take a quick peek at what I'm wearing to make sure I didn't wear similar gold lamé pants and suspenders on my shopping expedition.

Yesterday I went and found a coat on the clearance rack. It is a monstrosity, and it is old, musty and dirty, but it has a big fur collar that I thought I could cut off and use for a stole (after giving it a flea bath). It was $2. The woman is packing up my stuff. She had to go through three bags to find one big enough (that's how huge it is). She then says "oh, this will be nice and warm next winter."

Ummm yes. Thanks.

Of course, when I go to these places, sometimes I feel embarrassed when I'm scrounging through old pairs of multi-coloured nylons or little boys' boxer shorts, looking for just the perfect pattern that will look great on stage. But more often than not, I'll have someone join me digging through the piles, as if they're worried I'm going to take the "best" used undergarments before them. Sometimes I'll start digging really furiously and giving them menacing "get off my turf" looks. Just for fun ya know. I don't want someone else scoring another 20lb cobweb jacket when it should have been mine.