Warmer weather states have lots to offer year round......in the way of outside activities. Central Florida's weekly flea markets, quite numerous. There is however, one that bills itself as Florida's oldest continual flea market. Located in the small farming town of Webster, the population on Mondays increases by at least five hundred percent. Much like the Brimfield, Massachusetts antiques flea market, just with a touch of southern charm and many a "how ya'll doin?" thrown in. Spread throughout the drive-thru town, not nearly the size of Brimfield, but as one "older than dirt leather-faced true Floridian gentleman" stated, "if you cain't (can't with that southern drawl), find what yer lookin fer out in them there fields, then it ain't nowheres to found ma'am!" As we walked along, Mr. Bill made mention..."the old guy is right, will you look at this stuff!" What did amuse us, Coca-Cola paraphernalia and lots of it. Bottle caps, tin wall signs, old bottles, some of which looked like they had come right out of the old Coca Cola cooler at Fred's News. Even some of the old wooden Coke boxes. We joked, Fred's could use some sprucing up.
That old Coke cooler that sits in Fred's News, one of a kind, with many inquiring prospective buyers making offers over the years. For us, that piece of memorabilia was an intricate part of Fred's News. Not so much its age, but what it stood for. Returning friends, after years of absence from the area, always stopped at Fred's News. Although much had changed, that old red Coke cooler still stood guard over the little place. Even more unique, it remained in the same spot, just the rest of the layout changed.
Every year the Academy of the Holy Family hosts its Alumni weekend, with former students returning. Not only a time to reminisce about their lives at the school, but the bonds of friendship between them, many of which continue. A common denominator for conversation starters, the old Coke cooler at Fred's News. They laugh and giggle much as they did in their teen years,"remember how we hid from Sister Mary Jude, ducking down behind the Coke cooler?" "We used to sit on the end stools because we could see the cute guys that stopped in during the after noon for cold Coke." All cherished memories of youth and the old Coke cooler.
One Sunday afternoon a young man stopped in for a visit at Fred's News. As he walked in, he stopped looked slowly around, his eyes stopping at the Coke cooler. "Yes, it is still here", he remarked with a sigh of relief. "I met my future wife in here back when we were teens. Our first date, french fries and two bottles of Coke. Today I am going to ask her to marry me, I just wanted to make sure the old Coke cooler still lives. We are coming back later for french fries and two bottles of Coke. I sure hope she says YES!"
As Mr. Bill and I walked the flea market, the afternoon sun, pleasantly warm, we agreed, Fred's News not only was our life but a very good and big part of our lives and that of our children. I know they too can tell stories at a moments notice, when some bit of trivia conjures up a bit of cherished memory. There is satisfaction and comfort in knowing, that little place touched so many lives......by the way, the young lady said YES!......Fred's News was a Constant Place.
That old Coke cooler that sits in Fred's News, one of a kind, with many inquiring prospective buyers making offers over the years. For us, that piece of memorabilia was an intricate part of Fred's News. Not so much its age, but what it stood for. Returning friends, after years of absence from the area, always stopped at Fred's News. Although much had changed, that old red Coke cooler still stood guard over the little place. Even more unique, it remained in the same spot, just the rest of the layout changed.
Every year the Academy of the Holy Family hosts its Alumni weekend, with former students returning. Not only a time to reminisce about their lives at the school, but the bonds of friendship between them, many of which continue. A common denominator for conversation starters, the old Coke cooler at Fred's News. They laugh and giggle much as they did in their teen years,"remember how we hid from Sister Mary Jude, ducking down behind the Coke cooler?" "We used to sit on the end stools because we could see the cute guys that stopped in during the after noon for cold Coke." All cherished memories of youth and the old Coke cooler.
One Sunday afternoon a young man stopped in for a visit at Fred's News. As he walked in, he stopped looked slowly around, his eyes stopping at the Coke cooler. "Yes, it is still here", he remarked with a sigh of relief. "I met my future wife in here back when we were teens. Our first date, french fries and two bottles of Coke. Today I am going to ask her to marry me, I just wanted to make sure the old Coke cooler still lives. We are coming back later for french fries and two bottles of Coke. I sure hope she says YES!"
As Mr. Bill and I walked the flea market, the afternoon sun, pleasantly warm, we agreed, Fred's News not only was our life but a very good and big part of our lives and that of our children. I know they too can tell stories at a moments notice, when some bit of trivia conjures up a bit of cherished memory. There is satisfaction and comfort in knowing, that little place touched so many lives......by the way, the young lady said YES!......Fred's News was a Constant Place.
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