Some Goodwill mysteries to ponder

Every once in a while (or more) I find myself in a Goodwill (or a Goodwill-like place) asking myself, “Huh?”

I suspect that I am not alone here.

Goodwill is full of mysteries, like all the randomly shaped metal pieces of things in the “metal aisle” that you pick up and wonder what in the world they are, or are supposed to be used for.

(These are good mysteries though, because I think they ignite the creative thinking.)

One Goodwill mystery is one I have pondered all my life.  Take a look at the pic below:

Ok.  So here we have a firefighting bear.  Anyone who has ever visited a thrift store has probably noticed the shelves (and shelves and shelves) of random statuary.  (Firefighting bears, policeman bears, doctor bears, odd-colored cats in weird poses, etc.)

So the question is: where the heck did all these little statues come from??

Aside from the thrift stores, which are full to brimming over with these kinds of statues, I have NEVER in my life noticed random little statues for sale at any other store.

And I think I get out regularly.  (?)

Do they sell random little statues at the grocery store?  No.  Target?  No.  The mall?  Never seen any.  Wal-Mart?  Surprisingly, no.  (Though maybe I just haven’t looked hard enough?)

So where do these millions and millions of random little statues that are donated to thrift stores come from in the first place?

Hmm.  Something to think about.

And speaking of the random little statues, I happened to notice one that’s a double mystery:

This is Santa, right?

So if this is Santa, why is there a letter “A” on his belt?

What in the world could that possibly stand for?  Santa Claus?  No.  Saint Nick?  No.  Father Christmas?  No.  Nicholas?  No. Papa Noel?  No.  (Maybe he’s Spanish…)

I’m out of guesses.

That couldn’t be random, right?  There must be some reason his belt has an “A.”

I’m pretty sure I’ve devoted way too much time in my life already to pondering this one.

And for our final mystery:

A horse table/lamp!  What your house has been missing!

Who bought this in the first place?

I’m pretty sure it was meant to be taken seriously as room décor.

I really want to do it.  I want to buy a cabin and fill it completely with STUFF LIKE THIS.

Wouldn’t that be fun?

As you lay in bed this evening, staring at the ceiling and pondering the deep mysteries of Goodwill, ask yourself this:

Which came first, Goodwill?  Or the random little statues that fill it up?

Sleep well!