DKNY Skinny jeans- $7.49, representin’ at the Mary Todd Lincoln house in Lexington, KY, Goodwill
Unpictured- “Henry and Clara”, a novel, .99, Goodwill in CT.
Who’s that sexy tourist in DKNY skinny blue jeans? (hey, if you can’t pay yourself compliments, then who can? I’m aware that question doesn’t make much sense)
It’s me.
I’m so excited about this picture and everything about it for one main reason- the reason I am where I am in this picture as well as the clothing in it are BOTH owed to Goodwill. This picture is of me visiting the home of the late Mary Todd Lincoln, an experience I am so thankful to have had, but would never have happened if it hadn’t been for a novel called “Henry and Clara” that I picked up and couldn’t put back down at Goodwill last August.
Not only was the book amazing, but it thankfully broke my 1-2 year reading dry spell that I had sadly been on. It was about Henry and Clara Rathbone, the two people sitting in the booth with Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated by one John Wilkes Booth. It is a gripping, tragic, controversial love story as well as informative historical recounting of those turbulent times in our country’s history that will have anyone who reads it gripped. Who knew how interesting their stories were? Well I am glad one person did and decided to write this amazing and informative novel, allowing me to look like a huge dork being excited about historical dead people when talking to friends about my life… So If you love History, Abraham Lincoln, or just looking at words on paper at all, you’ve GOT to give this one a try.
While the story is about Henry and Clara Rathbone, Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary were not surprisingly large parts of the story as well, as there would be no book without them. I always grow very close to the characters (er in this case…real people….?) in the books that I read. So when I found out that Mary Todd Lincoln’s house, where she spent ages 14-22 of her life and visited later on with Abe, was in the very town of Lexington, KY that I happened to be visiting for a couple days, I was quite ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to get there and stand on the very same ground that she had.
If she was alive, this may be considered stalking. Lucky for me, she isn’t, so I’m safe for the moment.
I stood on the ground, and you can now view the excitement of that happening at your leisure in the picture I have posted above.
But without Goodwill, I wouldn’t know of Mary Todd, or be excited about her house in Lexington, KY, where I happened to be visiting. And it would have been just another historical landmark on the side of the road I would have driven right by.
Assuming I was on that road for some other reason. If not, I would have not even driven by it, but I didn’t know what else to say so I said “I would have just driven by.”
I also wouldn’t have had any pants on.
Well, that may be false. I’m sure I would have put something on, but they wouldn’t have been these great DKNY skinny died blue jeans.
THE POINT IS- the reach of Goodwill knows no bounds in my life. 🙂 And I am so thankful for that.
I’m also sure the late First Lady would have appreciated my frugality at her residence.
Actually- I know that’s not true- the book talked of her great opulence in what she spent on her clothing and fashions, sometimes ridiculous amounts.
Look at me! Look what I know about Abraham Lincoln’s wife’s dressing habits! I’m so impressed.
(There I go again with the compliments.) I’ve gotten used to it.
They had tours at the house, but they were an hour long and we were on a time crunch, so we left sans tour and some history learning that may have happened, but most likely with a happier boyfriend. He did not read the book, so I’m SURE did not share my excitement for this old wood structure on the side of the road that housed some people at some point. I did read it, and so did share in my own excitement quite a bit.
Here are a few more pictures of the grounds, and the lovely sign saying, “this building is of importance- take note” outside. Pictures are not allowed inside, so I obliged the rules and kept my finger clicking to the exterior. The gardens were at least quite pretty though.
And there ya have it. Thanks to Goodwill, I read this great book and found out about Mary Todd Lincoln, the controversial love story and lives of Henry and Clara Rathbone who were in the booth with Abe that night, and so much more.
Next on my list…Natchitoches, LA, the setting for Cane River, one of my favorite historical fiction novels about four generations of slavery and then early emancipation. Its only just over 10 hours away…somehow I just haven’t gathered the courage or time to make that visit yet. I’ll keep you posted….
….as I’m sure I’ll be wearing or using something Goodwill when the time arrives.
Happy thrifting and living,
❤ Jaime
mygoodwillfinds 