Enchantment in a 5 and 10-Cent Store

The other night as my mind was wandering, at perhaps 3:00 AM, I had a lovely encounter with the past. I was remembering some wanderings of late childhood. I was about ten or eleven and the magic journey was a bus that took me downtown Bridgeport.

The first part of the magic journey was just waiting for the bus all by myself. I felt very grown-up and by today's standards I was! I would lock the house, put my key on a string around my neck, hide it, and walk the two blocks to wait by the telephone pole for the bus. When the public bus came I got on, said "Hello" to the driver--who I recognized from lots of trips--paid and sat down. I always sat up front, liking to be near him, just in case I needed help. Then I would read. Usually I had a great book with me, maybe Little House on the Prairie or Nancy Drew. Whatever it was, time flew and before I knew it, I was stepping off the bus on Main Street.

The downtown streets of Bridgeport seemed so busy and crowded! I was not afraid though. I knew my destination. Inside of my pocket I clutched my few dollars and made straight for my enchanted castle. There it was--the 5 and 10-cent store in all of its glory! A perfect palace! I had a wonderful food counter with stools that swirled around if I was hungry. I could just hop up and order anything I wanted--an ice cream soda or a hamburger. I had a bathroom so I didn't need to feel desperate, and I had this whole glorious store to walk around. The endless aisles with the glass counters just full of items to touch and dream about! There was a make-up aisle and I could imagine ahead a few years. I loved to look at the colors of make-up and especially the lipsticks. How would I look all dolled up--beautiful, yes? Then there was the pocketbook and wallet aisle. That was fun, and the candy aisle and even house-wares was interesting.

But the best aisle, and my purpose in this exploration of enchantment, was to the fabric aisle. Oh, the bolts of fabric were so wonderful. If only I had a ton of money and a real grown-up sewing machine I could make such wonderful clothes. I would design them myself and everyone would love them, but I had only a couple of dollars and just a tiny hand cranked sewing machine. Still I was in paradise. "I will take a quarter of a yard of this soft velvet-maroon and a yard of this lace trim, please. And may I have 1 quarter of a yard of this soft fake white fur? Oh, I am so excited." A very nice lady put them all into a paper bag. I told her I was making a new winter outfit for my doll. She even threw in a package of buttons for trim. I was so lucky!

Sadly, my money was almost gone and the bus was coming. I left my enchanted castle of 5 and 10-cent wonders. I felt so enriched inside--another successful journey into the big world and a package of wonders to further play with when I got home. Life was good and I now looked forward to a few more pages of Nancy Drew on the way home!

About the Author

Dr. Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self and a psychologist since 1981. She is the author of two books: The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy and Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!
Dr. Holstein speaks on radio, and appears on television in NY and NJ. She gives lectures, seminars, retreats and audio interviews on LadybugLive.com and is in private practice in Long Branch, NJ with her husband, Dr. Russell Holstein.