Suffering from Nostalgia? EBay to the Rescue

Nostalgia is a strange feeling, and it often hits us when we least expect it. For me, the cure for nostalgia is almost always found by a quick visit to eBay.

Most computer-savvy people are already acquainted with eBay, an online auction site where you can buy or sell almost anything imaginable. In fact, just this morning, I read where a young movie star, Scarlett Johansson, blew her nose on a tissue while visiting a talk show, and then offered the tissue up to be sold on eBay.

I would have to really, really nostalgic before I would bid on that bit of fluff, but it was supposed to be for a hunger charity. And, it not only had the discharge from her nose in the tissue, but also some of her lipstick, so maybe, if you were a fan of hers, it might not seem like such a bad deal. The last I heard, someone had already offered more than $2000 for the tissue.

I only mentioned the tissue auction to emphasize my point that you can find almost anything on eBay.

Need a wig to disguise a bad hair day? eBay has a wide selection of Eva Gabor wigs starting at bid prices under $10. Or too shy to actually darken the door of Victoria's Secret at your local mall? eBay auctions can take care of that problem and at a fraction of the cost.

Do your kids beg for brand name clothes that don't fit into your budget? Look for Hello Kitty, Nike, Hannah Montana, etc. at eBay. Your kids will be happy and their friends will never know the difference.

A few years ago, I managed to find a 1915 circus booklet which Kellogg's Corn Flakes included in their cereal boxes in those days. An elderly relative had mentioned how she had enjoyed a similar booklet when she was a child, and was totally delighted when I got one for her--on eBay.

My sister recently mentioned that she had used a particular kind of rubber curlers in her hair for many years, and that her collection was beginning to wear out. Once again, it was eBay to the rescue. I managed to snag enough of those little pink curlers on eBay auctions to last her for the rest of her life.

I learned to play the guitar as a child by practicing the songs in a tattered old music book my mother had around the house. The book was lost as our family moved from place to place; at the time, it didn't bother me a lot since I had traded my budding career as a guitarist for one raising children, but one day, I dragged my old guitar out, only to find that my favorite music book had disappeared. I was not a happy camper, until someone suggested that I try tracking down a copy at eBay. It took a couple of months of auction watching, but one day, there it was. I bid, and got it for a pittance.

Several times, over the years, I have turned to eBay to successfully find a course that I had felt was too expensive to buy new. A used course served my purpose just as well, and I saved money, too.

As an auctioneer on eBay as well as a bidder, I have provided exotic hardwoods for hobbyist carvers, and magnetic jewelry for those looking for relief from arthritis. I have sold used maternity and baby clothing, and books on many subjects.

My daughter collects Liddle Kiddle dolls, and often finds well-preserved specimens on eBay to add to her collection.

A son-in-law trades sports cards on eBay.

Just think how great it would make you feel to find a copy of the high school annual for your best friend who couldn't afford one for herself the year you graduated. A lot of people aren't a bit sentimental and they dump things like that. It wouldn't hurt to at least check it out on eBay.

Is there a bit of nostalgia hanging around for something from your own childhood; maybe a vinegar cruet like the one your grandma always used, or some strawberry popcorn seeds like grandpa used to grow, or a pair of fuzzy leg warmers that were all the rage when you were a teen? Things like that are what eBay is made up of.

Next time you feel a severe case of nostalgia setting in, plop yourself down in front of the computer, and let eBay come to the rescue. My guess is, even if you don't find an exact match for the item you are looking for, you will find something similar, and perhaps even better.