Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A TKO At W&T's!

Once upon a time there existed a world where women wore curlers and hair nets while talking nonstop for hours on telephones wearing rotary dials and cords.  A world in which hand written mail...paid for with a 4 cent stamp...came from far-away lands postmarked with exotic names like Ft. Worth, Duluth...or Toledo Ohio.  A place where television came complete with rabbit ears, twittering was for the birds, and to kindle was what a husband had on his mind Saturday night.

A simple existence for these village haus-fraus...except in January...when an annual not-to-be-missed event would roll around and transform those same prim and proper ladies...seemingly in the blink of an eye...into marauders and pillagers.

It was called a White Sale.

Ladies would cluster outside Sanger-Harris and Titche-Goettinger's, sizing up the competition while awaiting the opening of the doors.  A pox befelled the poor store manager who failed to unlock the doors promptly at ten and woe be unto any stragglers who stumbled and fell.  As the women...armored in their pill box hats and Playtex girdles...staked out their line of attack, they wasted little time before beginning their assault on tables holding meticulously folded sheets and towels.

The tireless quest that ensued rivaled that of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table.  For as much as the knights of old searched valiantly for the Holy Grail, these stalwart damsels had their own dragons to slay...beginning with anyone blocking the 2-fer pillows and ending with a set of mismatched Fieldcrest sheets at 30% off.

Biting, scratching, hair pulling...girls and boys...it was better than the Saturday night wraslin' matches at the Sportatorium.  Yea...even better than Fritz Von Erich's Iron Claw.  Undaunted and prepared to run the gauntlet, these wenches of old, wearing white kid gloves instead of boxing gloves, kicked, elbowed, and gouged each other to reach the granddaddy bargain of them all...."While they last...white towels at...(gasp!!!)... three for a dollar!".   With broken nails,  black eyes, and missing a hank of hair or two, they would lay their bounty at the check-out counter while smiling sweetly (sans a tooth or two) at the clerk, secure in the knowledge...they had won and victory was sweet.

The end...

or is it?

Nowadays, there is a sale going on somewhere...every day...always.  Whether it's a mattress or Red Apple Sale, it's just not the same.  The anticipation of a really good, once a year, lose your mind sale is but a legend of old.  Sadly, the frenzy those annual white sales could whip up are gone forever...BUT...if you lust after a really good sale...look no further.  W&T's/Sweet Pea's to the rescue.

You want a knight in shining armor to rescue you?

We can do better than that with a day trip to rusty heaven and junk salvation.

You want him to carry you away on a white horse?

You'll be carried away by all the merchandise we are offering at 20-30% off at the shops...and not just in white.

You'd give your good right arm for a fortuitous deal...but don't want to lose your left one in the bargain?

Then...come on down!

If you're going to Canton tomorrow...or Thursday...or Friday...why not plan on making a little 20 minute detour to beautiful, downtown Athens?  For a plethora of items guaranteed to make you see stars...and not from another shopper conking you on the noggin....head to Winnie and Tulula's and Sweet Pea's for Not Your Normal White Sale.  You're gonna want to give your eyeteeth for our deals, but I promise you...the only one who'll be missing teeth at the register will be our precious shop baby!

Just to be on the safe side though...be sure and bring your checkbook!


Heck y'all...he's worth the trip!

Remember...listen for the cash register bell...no hitting below the macrame' belt...and may the best woman/man win!

  

17 comments:

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

Richard and I watch Leave it to Beaver every morning while having our coffee. Reading your post "I see" (Romper Room came to mind) June Cleaver, Donna Reed and what was the mom's name on Father Knows Best?!

(Yeah, we watch the news too but after 15 minutes of shootings, robberies, econonmy and politics, we've had enough!!!)

One of these days, Deb, I'm going to knock on your door and we're going to go junkin!!!

Have fun!!!

xoxo

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Deb, you crack me up! You have such a way with words. Are you a writer or politician, maybe both, or just a good saleswoman, nope, you are just you! Wish I were going, I know I'd find a treasure or two. Hope it's a sale out day.

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Girl you are cracking me up!! I totally remember my mom like that when I was a little girl ~
You need to write a book :)

Nancy's Notes said...

You are a kick!! Those white sales, no more of that triumphant feeling and no teeth! OH the days! Of course that little one it worth a walk through those doors, what a cutie! One day...

Elizabeth Maxson said...

Oh how I laughed and laughed at the end with all the ladies standing at the check out and smiling sweetly (sans a tooth or two) at the clerk.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Anyone born prior to 1960 may think you colorful with your words, but you painted such memories for me as a little girl! I CLEARLY remember mom scouring the newspaper for ads for the WHITE SALE and yes, you are so right...there is a sale every minute of the day now.

And stores actually opened at 10AM, and closed at 8PM and NEVER opened on Sunday! I remember once, mom told us kids to "stay in the car" as she went to go for her hunt at the White Sale. I guess she didn't want to watch us three little ones (age, 3, 4 and 6) and could keep both hands free and her eyes peeled for all the good finds. Never mind it was Jan. All was well: She brought us a blanket and we each had a box of Cracker Jacks and we blew our breath on the side car window and drew with our fingers. No computer hand games, or Ipods, or COPS to arrest mom for leaving three kids in the car.

Thanks for the memories and I hope the sale goes well for my little Sweet Pea and Winnie and Tulula's!

Big hug
Elizabeth :-)

Elizabeth Maxson said...

Sorry, I meant, anyone, born AFTER 1960 or so .....not "prior"...geesh....must....get....breakfast......in....me!!!

Love
E

red.neck chic said...

Oh my, good gracious...

Kevin VonErich used to babysit me...

that really has nothing to do with anything but you mentioned Gramps VonErich and I just kinda... went off course. LOLOLOLOL

You make me want to get in a time machine and go to a white sale!!! I picked up some skillllzzzzz while I was growin' up and gettin' babysat!!!
(there, see? i guess it did have something to do with everything. ha!)

;-D robUHlyn

Olive said...

One day, my poet, Joe says we are driving to Texas, and many muscle relaxers later I am coming to see ya-promise. Sale or not.

Low Tide High Style said...

Oh my, I remember those white sales, my mother and grandmother were right there throwing elbows with the best of 'em! Sometime I'll regale you with the tale of the annual sale at the brass factory we went to once a year and how my sister and I made the cut to get in, but my parents did not!

I'm off to check out their sites and I'm betting I will be sorry I don't live near either shop!!

Kat :)

Dixie said...

Deb... those were the days weren't they!... wish I were going too... but alas.. I will be doing real world work this week...

went to Beverly's Glory B and to see the Curious Boys today... came away with lots of treasure and no mo' money...

happy weekend... sell everything!!!

hugs. Dixie

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

The ol' Grover Cronins on Moody Street was THE place. Used to love going to those sales with my Mom!

Cue Bob Hope now please ~

Thanks for the memories...

Pam @ Frippery said...

Oh Debbie thanks for the trip down memory lane. Lately I wouldn't mind seeing the days of old return. No chance of that. You no I would be there pushing girls out the way to be first in the door if I could! LYthH Pam

Rebecca said...

Ha how I remember those days...
wish I could make the sale
hope it rocks
Blessings
RE

Shabby Vintage Junk said...

Oh Deb I've MISSED checkin' in with you Lovey....My throat is sore from laughing over your words & once again....All is well with my world....!!

Your about to 'have mail'....Of the EMAIL kind....!!

Cheers from Oz,
Tamarah :o)

Olde Tyme Marketplace said...

I.am.dying.You had me at "mix match Fieldcrest!"I just read this post out loud to a bunch of customers that are in the shop! They love you!!
So do I !!!!!
Beth

Olde Tyme Marketplace said...

I.am.dying.You had me at "mix match Fieldcrest!"I just read this post out loud to a bunch of customers that are in the shop! They love you!!
So do I !!!!!
Beth

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