30 Apr News from Experienced Goods: May 2023
A couple of weeks ago I asked Karen if there was anything she wanted me to write about in the newsletter article for May. She said, “Something positive! Something happy!” It’s true that Brattleboro, and the world in general, has had its share of sobering, scary, disheartening news of late. I get my news from NPR, The Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons and the New York Times, but I have to take it in small doses lest I curl up into a grey ball of discouragement and forget to engage with friends and colleagues.
As always, spring is a hopeful time in Vermont, and after 28 years of living here I still get a thrill from seeing the first tiny leaves popping out on the trees and the vibrant colors of forsythia, daffodils and tulips blooming. Shorts, tank tops and sandals are selling like hotcakes at Experienced Goods, even on days when the temperature doesn’t hit 50. Customers are asking for swimsuits. The housewares department is selling fewer crock pots and more salad spinners. People are inquiring about gardening tools and camping gear. Everyone avoids using the 4-letter “S” word (snow). In addition to the commonplace joys of the season, though, sometimes a truly wondrous thing happens. In late April, Susan Parris, Executive Director of Brattleboro Area Hospice, and Denise Glover, Administrative Assistant, came to the shop carrying one of those giant cardboard checks you see when someone wins the lottery. Brattleboro Subaru, which has on several occasions donated generously to Hospice, outdid themselves this time and wowed us all: The dollar amount on the check was $28,000! To say we were stunned is an understatement. We are so grateful to Brattleboro Subaru for this tremendous gift in support of our mission and services. Thank you to Frank Hannenberger, John Sciacca and everyone at Brattleboro Subaru!
So I currently drive a Subaru Forester. As you may know, I live in Marlboro and commute to Brattleboro daily. Route 9 is hilly and scenic, and on most days the drive helps me unwind and sift through the contents of my brain. Throughout the often treacherous winter, however, my all-wheel drive Subaru is my chariot with wings, a powerhouse of a vehicle that reliably carries me up and down the hill and has completely turned around my fear of winter driving. I can confidently say that I will always drive a Subaru as long as I live in Vermont. Like a well-made, dependable car, Experienced Goods roars to life every morning, runs smoothly (with occasional infusions of pizza and chocolate) and gets you where you want to go, whether that’s buying a new set of dishes, fleshing out your wardrobe with cute new clothes or stocking up on reading material. We are also fun and easy to drive, just ask the many customers who visit us for “shopping therapy.” We rotate our tires and change our oil regularly (fresh goods!) and are very low maintenance. Come in for a test drive soon!