When I was a little kid around 1950 we lived in the country. I can remember us getting Sears orders in the mail. Particularly recall everyone getting something but me. That was because it was school clothes and I didn’t go.
Maybe once a month all 7 of us would drive to DeFuniak Springs to shop. It seemed Daddy knew half the people in town and he would constantly stop on the sidewalk and talk for maybe 10 minutes. It really irritated me but nothing I could do but stand there.
There was a truck which came by maybe every two weeks. It was called the “rolling store” and he had many necessities. He also took produce in trade.
A different world but maybe the ordering part has returned.
Great story, YD. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Ketchum, ID for many years back around them. My aunt kept a huge basket in the living room filled with mail-order catalogs of all stripes. Coming from more mid-sized city suburbs, I was always amazed and wondered “why does she need those?” There wasn’t much shopping around Ketchum in those days and it was two hours to Twin Falls (which wasn’t very big then, either).
I DO remember the Sears catalog around the holidays. What a wonderful “wish book” it was.