Feb 2, 2009

The Daily Poverty Post.

Hello one person in the known world who maybe didn’t spend this past weekend celebrating the fact that Bossy’s friend Martha turned a year older. Wee!

Bossy couldn’t figure out what to get Martha for her birthday. Granted she’s easy to buy for and appreciates everything, but Bossy thought it would be kind of cheap to disappear into yet another home store and emerge with something housey or kitcheny.

Which got Bossy thinking about the whole icky consumer thing in general, and the fact that Bossy is now four months into her Poverty Party trying not to spend any money and are we having fun yet?

So Bossy decided that the best present she could give Martha would be something Bossy already owns that is a favorite. This isn’t about re-gifting. This is about taking something that brings you great joy and passing that thing to a great person.

Bossy knew right away she would give Martha her beloved lantern, which was probably the only thing about Bossy’s backyard she liked.

Years ago Bossy trash-picked this lantern, which was at some point rigged for a lightbulb, but Bossy brought the etched green acrylic back to life with a fat candle.

It has a nice new home now.

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12 comments

1. 1
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 am
   MariaV said:

   This is quite lovely. I like the idea of gifting something that is special to you.


2. 2
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
   bossy's friend martha said:

   I am a lucky lucky girl. Thank you, my dear friend.


3. 3
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
   Cat said:

   Angst was my mother’s first grandchild, and she had been waiting a long time for him, so she gave me a gift when he was born. It was a bracelet of hers that I had loved since I was a little girl. It was the most wonderful regift ever.


4. 4
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
   dgm said:

   Bossy, you are a special friend to do that. It’s always harder to give up something we cherish than to buy something.


5. 5
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
   Jacquie said:

   That is a lovely gift, a lovely lantern. I have to admit that in my pre-coffee fuzzy eyed haze, I really thought you were going to say you turned it into a birdfeeder – doesn’t it sort of look like it’s full of birdie food? Well, now that I think of it, it looks more like guinnea pig pellets. A regifted lovely lantern guinnea pig feeder. I wish I had a friend like you.

   I just looked again and it totallly does NOT look like it’s filled with anything other than pretty glass and the potential for life. Why am I still talking?


6. 6
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
   Kristine said:

   OMG, I am so glad I am not the only person who thought this was going to be about a bird feeder.

   Lovely gift!


7. 7
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
   The Cheap Chick said:

   That is the nicest gift EVER. You are a most awesome Bossy, and I’m sure Martha is ever-so thankful for you.


8. 8
   on February 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
   Little Miss Sunshine State said:

   I also thought it was a lantern that Bossy made into a bird feeder.

   It’s also nice that Bossy can visit her beloved lantern in Martha’s back yard.


9. 9
   on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
   Serendipitous Girl said:

   I love your gift! And that Bossy’s friend Martha actually comments as ‘Bossy’s Friend Martha!’

   Today I wrote about the itchies and how not to haz them.
   http://www.serendipitousgirl.com/2009/02/my-not-so-lush-life.html


10. 10
    on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
    corrie said:

    These are the most meaningful of gifts!

    I too have found joy in sharing cuttings from plants with friends. Nurturing and watering the plants remind of my friend everytime!


11. 11
    on February 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
    janny226 said:

    What a wonderful gift. Did you have any idea (or hope) when you started your Poverty Party that it would have such a tremendous effect on your whole mindset? Wow.


12. 12
    on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
    Emily said:

    There’s a big difference between “regifting” and giving something that a friend has been lusting after for a while anyways. How thoughtful of you!