Okay so here’s one of those rare gems of moments where retail is actually kind of okay.
I’m gonna start by revealing the well-kept secret that I live in Ohio… in case all the buckeye references flew by you. And Ohio… is obsessed with space travel. I mean- it makes sense. We’ve got a couple astronauts in our history, there’s the National Aeronautics and Space Museum in Dayton, and on those quiet summer nights, where the sky is clear and the stars are twinkling in the distance, it is hard to not look up at the darkness and wonder if there is intelligent life out there. (Not here.)
Anyhow, all the fourth graders have a big space-related project around this time of year and this means that we, as craft retailers, have to be problem solvers. The number one problem is ‘oh gods, please tell me that you’re going to put a primer down on that styrofoam before you spray paint it.’
Because- you guessed it- everyone is making a damn solar system model.
That is to say… their parents are making the solar system model.
I was just finishing up explaining the use of a styrofoam primer and which spray paints are safe to use with styro to the mother of one ten-year-old when the mother of another ten-year-old rounds the corner looking desperate.
“Is this a good paint for cardboard?”
It’s not. So I round her back to where her son and daughter are waiting and explain them what will work. She needs green, and there are three different kinds of greens. The mom holds them up and has her daughter choose.
“Which one do you want for your face?”
I freeze because putting acrylic on your skin is a great way to get a rash. “Hold on, you’re not putting this on your skin, are you?”
“No, gosh no. We’re painting a box and putting the box on her head.”
…
Okay, I’m curious. “Can you explain what you’re making?”
The daughter chimes in. “We have to do a project for school and I’m gonna dress up like a alien!”
Instantly, I love this child. Not just because she considers dressing up as an alien to be an acceptable school project, but because she’s not leaving it to her mom to do all the work.
So we talk for a minute about project stuff and she tells me that her brother is going to be the first man on Mars. Her brother is five. Her brother concurs- he is going to be the first man on Mars. Their mom tells me about the Neil Armstrong museum nearby. Like… this is a family of people excited about the future of space travel.
“Did you hear about those new planets,” I asked.
The little girl starts jumping up and down. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Mom: “Can you remember what they said about the new planets?”
“They said…. they said that they can… uhhh… sustain life! There might be aliens!”
Mom: “Now, they said they can sustain life, but I think they also said that it isn’t very advanced life.”
The little girl looks off into space- contemplating this new information. She is formulating a very important thought.
Before i go to bed, i would like to point out that it was a producer of la la land who told moonlight they they won. The producer was up there giving his acceptance speech and then found out that there was a mistake. Instead of being pissy about it or letting jimmy tell moonlight he told them and give them the oscar. Jimmy asked why they couldnt all get oscars and the producer, who i will add the name of tomorrow when im more awake, told him that moonlight deserved it and he was happy to give the oscar to them. All of la la lands people quickly left the stage so moonlight could have their time in the spotlight. No matter what your feelings on la la land please dont insult them for this. It was not their fault and they handled it so well and gave moonlight the respect they deserved.
This is such a small step but seeing it in the store today honestly made my day. We still have a long way to go but these little things make me smile.
I NEED THIS OMG
Whoa there! This is an area I am WEIRDLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT. You want to know where to buy them? LET ME RECOMMEND YOU SOME.
I work at a greeting card shop, a mom-and-pop (but really single mom shop) kind of place and I have to add to this!
Companies have just started to make wedding cards featuring same-sex couples in the last two years. This year for the first time a major distributor made same sex Valentines Day cards! I was over the moon!
This is from Papyrus! They are a great card company that you can get at loads of stores like Target.
BUT THEIR WEDDING ONES ARE BRAND NEW AND AWESOME.
See that matching set of ties? That was our best selling wedding card about four to six months after marriage equality became legal in our state! Do you know how many nervous old women I had to help pick out a same-sex card? LIKE SO MANY.
I had a man in his 90′s who was super nervous even ask me (quote), “I don’t mean to be offensive I just don’t know the word for a girl who likes girls and I don’t know what card to get my great niece.” And I was like, “The word is lesbian, you aren’t being at all offensive, and this card here will be perfect.” BEST DAY OF MY WORKING LIFE OKAY.
Meri-Meri cards also have great same sex cards!! The Mr. and Mr. banner is also one of our best selling wedding cards!
BUT HOLD THE FUCK UP.
BECAUSE LET’S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CUSTOM CARD SHOP LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY FROM US.
People are helping premature babies by crocheting tiny octopuses. The tentacles are thought to mimic the feel of an umbilical cord, and babies who cuddle an octo are less likely to pull out their monitors and tubes. When hospitals that participate in the Octo Project noted an increase in the overall health of their preemies, volunteers around the world began flooding them with donations. SourceSource 2Source 3
