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Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.
Langston Hughes
Photography by Denise Blasor
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San Juan -- Everything in its place and a place for everything.
That is the rule at most retail stores but luckily it isn't the modus
operandi at Grandmother's Attic, the thrift shop on the corner of
Parque and Martin Travieso Streets that earned a notice in
"Simone," the prize-winning novel by Puerto Rican writer Eduardo
Lalo.
The store is actually a large rambling house packed to the gills
with possessions cast off by their owners. It's a little like entering
the home of a hoarder unable to part with a lifetime of collecting
except that in this case it is the collective conglomeration of the
cast offs of many people trying to convert discarded belongings
into cash.
The vast amount of goods assembled in this large, dilapidated old
wood structure is astounding and, truth be told, there is a lot that a
discriminating person would easily throw away but who is to say
that someone's rubbish isn't another person's treasure?
Navigating around the house can get a little tricky at times, or
reaching for an item might involve some acrobatics, but that is all
part of the fun.
The eclectic assemblage of books, furnishings, bric-a-brac, lamps,
dishes, jewelry, bags, and decorations is displayed helter skelter.
Everything is covered with a filmy patina of dust, especially things
located in the more recondite corners of the house. As one looks
around, one cannot but marvel at the incredible need of human
beings to possess and hold on to things. And to think that every
single item has a story to tell!
The joy of visiting Grandmother's Attic lies in taking in the parade of
everyday objects that are such a part of our lives and amid all that
clutter being able to spot that special object that turns the common
into a personal treasure.
Grandmother's Attic keeps an irregular schedule of operations
and is often closed which adds to the extra pleasure of turning up
at the door and finding it open. Placing a call may not always
elicit an answer, even when the business is open but should you
go there and find it shuttered, don't let disappointment mar your day.
Instead, walk to nearby Loiza Street and enjoy a bite or refreshment
at any of the many small restaurants and eateries that have made
this section of San Juan a favorite food enclave and a hangout
place for people of all ages.
Grandmother's Attic, 161 Calle Parque
Opening hours: Tuesday and Friday, 9 - 5; Sat, 12:30 to 5:30
787.725.5260
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| My eyes were closed. they're open now. Damien Rice, Irish songwriter/singer |
➽ A SIMPLE TIP
Recycled Priority Mail flat rate envelopes and clear
plastic storage bags are perfect for storing receipts:
make it a habit to place all receipts in the bag or the
envelope for quick access should you need to return
an item to the store or to reconcile your checkbook
at the end of the month. Use a new bag or envelope
for each month.
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| Photography by Denise Blasor Unfathomable mind, now beacon, now sea. Samuel Beckett |
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