LIFELONG BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OFTEN START EARLY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME REGARDING THE ANTIQUES BUSINESS.
AT AN AGE, SLIGHTLY PAST THE WALKING STAGE, I WAS OUT LOOKING FOR THE GOOD "STUFF".
WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY, MY DOG CECIL, THE GUYS (MIKE AND CHUCK), AND I WOULD TAKE OUR WAGON IN SEARCH OF "OBJECTS OF INTEREST". LACKING COLD CASH, WE WOULD SORT THROUGH PILES OF DISCARDED ITEMS IN THE TRASH OF THE LOCAL '5 & 10', HARDWARE STORE, AND LUMBERYARD. AT THESE HAUNTS WE WOULD PROCURE THE DISCARDED ADVERTISING SIGNS AND STORE DISPLAYS. WE WOULD, AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK, SCOUR THE NEARBY RAILROAD YARD WITH ITS MOSTLY EMPTY BOXCARS, GONDOLAS, AND FLAT CARS PILFERING ABSTRACT PIECES OF SCRAP METAL - A CONSTANT RESIDUE PRODUCT FROM THE AUTOMOBILE AND TRUCK FACTORIES LOCATED IN NEARBY TINKERTOWN. AFTER ALL WE LIVED IN THE HEART OF THE MIDDLEWEST.
WE WERE ALSO KNOWN TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE ALLEYWAYS SEARCHING IN THE PILES OF CAST OFFS BEHIND THE HOMES IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD - "OH, THE VALUABLE STUFF FOLKS WOULD TOSS IN THE TRASH (IT WAS VALUABLE TO US!)". WHERE ELSE WOULD WE FIND OLD RADIOS, DISCARDED FISHING EQUIPMENT, REPAIRABLE BICYCLES, AND OTHER VALUABLE TREASURES.
NOT ALL OF OUR GLEANINGS WERE OF VALUE, HOWEVER. ONE YEAR WE COLLECTED EVERY DISCARDED CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE AREA WHETHER OFF THE CURB, IN THE ALLEY, OR WHEN WE WENT AS FAR AS KNOCKING ON DOORS TO ASK FOLKS IF WE COULD HAVE THEIR USED TREE. IN SHORT ORDER, A HUGE PILE OF TREES WERE AMASSED WITH PLANS OF BUILDING A CONIFER "FORT"....... WHICH WAS CUT SHORT WHEN THE NEWLY ACQUIRED STASH WAS DISCOVERED BY OUR OVERSEERS (PARENTS).
AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE WOULD LAY HOLD OF ANY DISCARDED, UNWANTED CASTOFF AND DRAG IT BACK HOME OR TO THE "HANGOUT".
MANY YEARS HAVE SINCE PASSED, AND I HAVE BECOME A LITTLE MORE DISCERNING BUT, IT WAS THOSE EARLY FORMATIVE YEARS THAT SET THE BEHAVIOR THAT STILL EXISTS TODAY.
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