Everyone says yes when given an opportunity to opt the best stuff that suits our budget. At times, clothes picked up from thrift shops instantly makes to our wardrobe favorites. Despite the fact that it requires enough time to go through the whole lots of odd pieces and pick the right thing at the right price, we never step back from spending our time in search of something, anything amazing. After all, this is where most of us improved our bargaining skills.

However, on several occasions, few items make you wonder about its sole owner. But very rarely do we see anyone who takes a step ahead rather than just wondering and so is the story of this woman who not just took it to next level but did a life-enhancing act. Here’s all you need to know about this strange yet inspiring story.

A Thrift Store Visit

It all started in 2009 when Sara Redlich was on a trip to Hillsboro, a town not far from her place ie Aloha in Oregon. The concept of cheap and nice is what attracts us to these stores and usually, we get enough free time to explore and shop when on outings. Just like the rest of us, the idea of a thrift store nearby sounded like a fun thing to Sara and hence her excitement led her to the local Goodwill at Hillsboro to get herself few efficient picks. She had no clue about how this store was soon gonna grant her with an extremely beautiful experience.

Discovered Something Strange

Most of the times we ignore the great things that await our attention to happen. Similar great thing awaited Sara in the store that day. While Sara was on her hunt for the best and most suitable stuff in the store, what she found was less of a product to be sold and more of someone’s personal belongings which ideally weren’t supposed to be there at the first place. Sara knew how much they can mean to the person whom they belonged to. So, not having a second thought she wanted to get them in the right hands. Though she was less aware of the difficulties she was about to face in return for an act of kindness. These are somebody’s memories. These are part of their life and history.

Joe- The Flashback

Going through her belongings Rose remembered when she met Joe while picking strawberries from the farm, Rose and Joe had known each other since childhood. Later as they grew up, Joe joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. They always shared a sweet understanding friendship. In 1972, when he came back on Christmas break Joe borrowed Rose’s car and she never thought twice before letting him take the car as they became too good friends by that time. All she requested for was to drop her at the office and later to home. Unaware that this might be a start of their journey together. So what actually was hidden in the wrapper Sara brought with herself that day?

Sudden Turns In Their Journey

Joe agreed to drop Rose and this brought an amazing turn to their relationship when they had their first kiss while on their way to Rose’s workplace. The rides gave them quality time to spend together, as a result, they came close enough to take the big step called marriage. The couple as decided got married and eloped to Reno, Nevada. It was the beginning of a new phase in their lives however the couple was unaware of the coming twist. Few days after their big day Joe was called off from his holidays to the Vietnam war resulting in the couple’s partition.

Three days later he was back in Japan and I was still in my apartment. There was nothing, except a guitar, there was no Joe anywhere in my house.

The Moment Of Surprise

When they met on the planned date, Rose unwrapped the package, she couldn’t believe her eyes for a while. An emotional moment for sure as in front of her was a pile of old envelopes waiting to be read by her. These were written during the Vietnam War, by her ex-husband Joe Hill. During the 1970s when Joe served in the army, that’s when he wrote all these letters to his beloved Rose. The letters were worth finding for Rose as they had beautiful memories hidden inside words. They married 42 years back on the same date.

Love Through Words

The letters were from the early months of their marriage. The letters were a flashback of every moment they shared and meant more than just words to Rose. Distances lead Joe to write his affection for her which the letters were all about. Reading those letters was a journey down to those beautiful days for her. Words of love written by the man she once loved made her emotional that she couldn’t stop her tears from flowing. “Well, I think we can kind of surmise. Early marriage, love letters.”