The Flea Market Fanatic!

Yes, it is true, "Everybody has a story!"  If I am not working and it is the weekend, I will make a five minute road trip to the local Farmer's Market, where fresh fruits and veggies of all kinds are almost disgustingly excessive and inexpensive.  Good for me, not so good for the starving masses in under developed areas.  Even close to home all one has to do is head for the city areas to find homeless people begging for a few bucks.  

After purchasing my stash for a few days, I decide to look around the other areas of the grounds, totally devoted to "flea market vendors".  Although some vendors are selling slight used items, they all feel are "Antique Roadshow" quality, most of these are junk.  Understandably, everybody is trying to make a buck. Much like my husband Mr. Bill, an "OLD YANKEE" from New England, they have never thrown anything away!  Still I move on...!  Maybe  a hundred or so feet down the way is a woman, with her blonde hair, teased into the old bouffant Dolly Parton style.  Quite the character, I stop and listen to her hawking her wares.  Believe it or not, much like my friend Doris she is selling AVON products.  She is also getting big bucks for her last bottle of Skin so Soft.  Intently listening, she cleverly tells the buyer it's numerous uses...the hook line and sinker being, it keeps mosquitoes at bay. Damn! her and Doris would of been a great team. As I look around her area, eavesdropping on her conversations, I pick up on the faint sounds of country music playing .   Christmas Carols a la Country, OMG,  this has got to be Doris' alter ego!  Too afraid to ask, I walk away wondering......does she yodel!

Thanks to Doris, a flea market fanatic, I do have a lovely collection of Brownstone pottery dishes, mugs, sugar bowls, creamers, butter dishes by McCoy and Hull, some still being a collectors' find.  During good weather in New England, Doris and Mrs. Morgan frequented the many Rhode Island, flea markets in search of anything they thought a bargain.  Knowing certain items I liked,  they were totally devoted to finding them for me...They did their best, they are the best!  On my fortieth birthday, Mrs. Morgan purchased forty pairs of earrings, many of which I still have...God love that woman!  Doris would purchase items, pack them away, then during the late summer months, she'd haul it all out, set up her yard and let the annual yard sale begin.  Doris truly enjoyed it.  For weeks she'd plan and talk about it.  Many Fred's News patrons were repeat buyers and yes, Doris did sell her AVON products as well, much like my Florida vendor!  Doris' music came from within.  Just ask her to break into song, she would oblige and yes, how that woman could yodel!  Maybe next week I'll ask the little lady five minutes up the road, "Hey ma'am can you yodel too?"