collectibles | Who I am

Being the nice and sun filled day I decided to call the facility and see if Al was napping yet. If not I wanted the nurse to ask him if he would like to go to Dairy Queen. She came back with the reply, “Yes he wants to go.”

“Great, I will be there in a short bit” I told her. I decided today was the perfect day as tomorrow we are to get between three to four inches of ice and snow. I knew I was going nowhere on that wicked day.

I went in and Al had his walker sitting in the doorway. He was ready! He had his jacket on and a big old smile. We went to the ice-cream shop and he ordered a mix of Reese’s pieces and Reese’s cup in a blizzard.

He struggled quite a bit getting the spoonfuls out of the cup. I helped when he could not do it at times. I think he really enjoyed his treat. After we left there we went to a thrift shop. It was sad to me in a way that he did not remember this shop, but this didn’t stop him from wanting to go in.

Once inside he took off and started his search for coca cola items. I gazed around but didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without. Pretty soon I heard Al just a chatting a way to a gentleman. It just so happened that I knew this was the owner‘s husband. This is what I heard.

Al; Look at this! Look at what I found! I found a coke tray and it is authentic! Look at this. Look at this! Look at the words right here!

Owner; Oh really? It’s authentic you say? Wow. Let me take a closer look.

I walked back to where they were standing and Al repeated the conversation to me. I told him it wasn’t authentic, but he swore it was.

The owner was eyeing me trying to figure out who was telling the truth, Al or me. I said, “Well Al if you think it is authentic than I will stick with what you say”.

Al smiled at me. I looked at the tray and saw no price tag. I asked the owner how much it was. He said, “Well now, I just brought it out from the back. We found it in an old building. I will have to ask the wife”.

I waited patiently for the answer and walked up to the front where I knew the owner’s wife. I told her,” Al just likes anything with coca cola on it. I don’t believe it is the real thing myself. Al thinks if he sees a trademark it is real.”

She started laughing and then said,”Well, how about $3.50?”

I asked Al, “How about $3.50?” and he shook his head quickly. He wanted it. He was too weak to stand any longer and found a seat to sit on. The whole time he was beginning to cry and repeat his first conversation over and over.

I paid for his tray and went to where Al was sitting and handed it to him. He didn’t register yet in his mind that it was now his. He just kept crying. I told him we needed to go and eventually got him back in the car and buckled up.

As we drove back to the facility I tried to teach Al about telling others, especially owners of stores that they have valuable pieces for low prices. I explained the ideals about buying and selling, and getting things for a bargain if you can. I explained to him about coming to me and telling me the big deal he thought about getting.

I asked him, ” Do you understand Bud what I am trying to say? It could be that by what you told him they could have raised the price by several dollars. You may have not been able to purchase it then”.

He nodded that he understood. We took off for the facility. As soon as we got him in the doors of the building he started shaking and trembling all over. Most of this was due to his excitement. The first staff he came in contact with he said, ” Look at this! Look at what I got! I told them it was authentic. I told them it was worth about one hundred dollars on American Pickers. My sister told them it wasn’t real so I got it for a good deal”.

I am not sure exactly if that made me look good or rotten to the core. I guess I don’t care. I was trying to teach him a lesson in wheeling and dealing. Maybe he understood some or maybe not of what I said. I do believe he thought that I did help him get a good deal though.

I was taught by the best, my father. He was the biggest wheeler-dealer in town, I swear. I never pay full retail unless I have to. I love auctions because I get to set the price in my mind.

All he cared about was he got a coke tray for a good deal. When I told him goodbye, I added, ” I hope you had a good time bud” and he said, ” I sure did Sis”!!

Coke recalls five drinks (nzherald.co.nz)
Sheboygan Coca-Cola to Close in March (nbc15.com)

rhinestone brooch (Photo credit: Jewels Globe)

Write 500 words on any topic you like. Now remove 250 of them without changing the essence of your post.

Wow, I can not imagine how this is going to turn out, with so many words being removed. What have I got to lose? I may as well give it a shot.

Something I am interested in was easy. My hobbies are antiques and slavery. I will choose antiques to speak about. I used to go to auctions and yard sales and buy up the cheap stuff, no one else wanted. If it was not in need of much repair, I would fix it. Mainly though I would take off the old finish, and give it a brand new look. Everything that I did stayed natural, putting a thin coating over the wood to protect it from water damages.

I would sell pieces through other auctions or at my home, until I had collected enough extras to open my first store. I loved it, and still do. I also collect black memorabilia. I hope that I can have one authentic black baby doll, before I go to see the Lord. I just bought my first Sambo cookie jar. I was like a kid in the candy store, when I brought that piece home. It sits beside my authentic Aunt Jemima salt and pepper shakers.

I love costume jewelry! Clear, colored, gaudy, but please no plastic. One blogger from another state sent me a piece this summer, I was ecstatic! It was beautiful.

Thank-you Daily Post for giving me a chance to write for you.

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