One of the most important life lessons I received from my Depression-era parents was the concept of thrift (节俭). The word seems to be of no1today, as we live in a throwaway culture where it is often cheaper to directly2a broken item. And even when a repair is cheap and3to accomplish—think of putting a patch on a pair of jeans—the very idea seems4, or a waste of time.
What is always overlooked is the5of thrift- the idea of6something and giving it a second life. Years ago when I ate up a piece of peach pie out of an aluminum pan, I asked my brother how I should7the pan. He responded, Throw it away! I was horrified at such a 8
For years, I've consistently9the peace pf mind that thrift provides. As the heels and toes of my socks10, I lay them aside until a snowy winter evening. I light a fire, put on some music, and11them one by one at12while snuggling into the sofa. In the rush of daily life, my socks allow me to13and enjoy a quiet evening.14this grace, I'm rewarded with a pile of born-again socks. I know it would be time-saving to simply throw the socks away, but that would deny me a15interlude(间歇).
