SATURDAY SURVIVOR STORIES: Just a Bauble, Coming Out of Hiding - The DV Walking Wounded:
I go to Goodwill literally every day…don’t judge…I mainly buy a few small things to flip to supplement my income. Hey, times are hard. I am also having to outfit my eighteen year old for his first apartment, so I scored him a great, like-new air fryer for $6. Sweet!
However, when I first walked into the store, I eyeballed a really nice looking pecan-colored shoulder bag (purse), looked it up online (and discovered that it was a Canadian brand I’d never heard of that was well-made), opened it up, looked at the condition of the straps and the bottom of it — but put it back because I didn’t want to take the risk — and I talked myself out of buying it for myself (my BF stated as much). As I hung it back up on the hook, something slightly heavy and VERY solid rolled from one side of the purse to the other.
“What the heck?”
I reached in and pulled out a small glass, egg-shaped object: a pretty blown-glass paperweight (pictured above). It had lovely symmetrical bubbles inside and swirled teal and blue and purple colors. How gorgeous and unexpected! I put it in my cart immediately. This sweet bauble was coming with me…and it was only 99 cents! Thanks, Macklemore!
As I was walking around the store, that find got me thinking: someone hid it in order to retrieve it later, but why hide it in such an attractive purse? I know people often hide things (particularly employees), to retrieve them later. I guess, if it were me, I would’ve hidden it in a ratty-looking, rough purse, so it would still be waiting on me. But that’s my personal opinion…
As I was browsing, I was still reflecting on that find (and rejoicing at finding a like-new T-Fal air fryer for my son), I thought that I was A LOT like that bauble. I was hidden away by my Ex Abuser, much like that paperweight, in order to retrieve later. He didn’t want anyone finding me, while he was away working and cheating, pausing long enough to tell me how worthless I was, so I would stay hidden. If he needed me, he thought he knew where to find me. BUT, I wasn’t there. Someone else found me and put me in their care and keeping. They didn’t care that I wasn’t pricey…they marveled at how beautiful someone like me was hidden away. I just love analogies!
I hate to think what the person who hid that paperweight is thinking right now…they may be frantically looking for that lovely bauble in every bag and purse in the building…meanwhile she’s been bathed and has a place of honor on top of an art-glass display case. I am super proud of it and would never dream of hiding it away. I feel like it will give me joy for years to come!
