I don’t eat popcorn very often. When I do, I usually grab a box of microwave popcorn with individual packets and call it a day.
But during a recent trip to a thrift store, I spotted something I couldn’t pass up: a small tabletop popcorn machine that looks just like an old-fashioned movie theater popcorn stand. It was too cute to leave behind, especially with an $8 price tag.
After I got home, I discovered that the same Great Northern Popcorn machine sells online for anywhere from about $30 to $80. That made my thrift store purchase feel like an even better bargain.
Of course, I had to find out whether it actually worked. I picked up a bag of old-fashioned popcorn kernels, plugged in the machine and waited. Within minutes, the familiar aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the room. Success.
Now the popcorn machine has earned a permanent place in my kitchen. I still won’t be making popcorn every day, but it has inspired a new tradition. Whenever I finally give in and pay full price to rent or buy a movie I’ve been wanting to see, I’ll pull out the little popcorn machine, pop a fresh batch and make it an official movie night.
Sometimes the best purchases aren’t the expensive ones. Sometimes they’re the unexpected $8 thrift store finds that make an ordinary evening feel a little more special.
