I miss Woolworths

I realized this past week that I miss Woolworth's stores. I think the last one disappeared when I was in New Orleans, in the late 90's, but I hadn't been to one for years by then. But now I think nostalgically about the Woolworth's in Long Beach. I was 18 and couldn't drive, so I would ride my bike over to the sad little outdoor mall. I would walk the aisles and contemplate possibilities. So much stuff seemed like it had been in a time capsule, like the gauzy rough scarves that old ladies would wear over their hair. They had crafts, and I bought cotton crochet thread to make friendship bracelets during my lecture classes. They had hardware, that I used to build goofily disposable sculptures. They had fake nails that I tried once and discovered how manicures and ceramics don't get along. They had a lunch counter. They had cheap tapes, like the best of early T.Rex that I lost to a thief in New Orleans and have never been able to replace.

What I liked was how it seemed that I could find whatever I was looking for. All under one roof, and all cheap. And very uncool. These days the only thing that compares is Wal-Mart, and that is such a massive undertaking. And there is no sense of discovery. I know what I will find in Wal-Mart, and am only occassionally surprised. (Recently I found a shockingly pink paisley tote bag in the clearance aisle for $2, I love it. But that is a rare thing) Although Wal-Mart has filled the shoes of the old Woolworth stores, with everything all in one place, the charm is a bit strained if not missing entirely.

I'll just keep missing Woolworth's.