Part I: In Which I Wax On About DI

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So, do you remember a few posts ago when I mentioned that I go wherever I'm invited?  Well, this mindset transcends my writer-life and exists in my regular-person life, as well.  If someone asks me to go somewhere, I do, which has led to some interesting experiences. Today I was asked to volunteer at Deseret Industries, or DI, for those in the know.   For those not in the know, DI is a thrift shop similar to Goodwill.  Most of the locations are in Utah (as DI is  run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)) but there are stores scattered throughout the West Coast.   As a side note, something I've long wondered about volunteer work:  Is it volunteering if you are asked to do it?  What is the actual definition of volunteer work?  Thoughts on this are more than welcome!

I got to wear a very cool apron, and my job was to sort and colorize the girls clothing racks.  Can you say bombtastic?  Go ahead, say it.  I won't tell Sara Zarr and let her make fun of you for it.  Anyway, this job made me wonder if I missed my true calling  as a retail sorter/colorizer.   One little Did-You -Know?-type fact:  DI does not colorize clothes according to rainbow order (ROYGBIV) as I would have expected (this is, of course, how I colorize my own clothes, because I am compulsive that way)(but you already knew that).  Instead, DI sorts clothes sort of from light to dark.  It threw me off a little at first, but no worries:  I had a handy pocket-sized chart, which I kept in my apron for reference.

Note to anyone who lives remotely close to the DI in Centerville, UT:  If you are on a budget but you (or your child) still want to wear name-brand clothes, go here!  Preferably on Wednesday, when (rumor has it) they restock their clothing racks.  Many ritzy people live in this area and buy their kids quality stuff, which their kids in turn outgrow and give away!  That's where Ordinary Joes come in and swoop it up for a fraction of the price.

This is A-1 merchandise.  In fact, DI Centerville had a selection of prom dresses so nice I actually thought:  "Too bad I'm not going to prom!"  Yes, I indeed thought this before realizing I did not want to go to prom.  However, they were great dresses.  And for $6??

I digress.  In fact, I've digressed for a whole post-length already and have gotten nowhere.  So I'm just going to make this a two-part post.  Because you've got a life.

Oh, and for those who might wonder:  No, I did not keep the apron.