This is a funny story. As the economy begins to open back up and the pandemic begins to wane, events are happening all over the place, thank goodness. We sincerely hope you all made it through this hell.
With events “starting” to happen. we old car guys are getting excited. One of my friends says I have Rust in my veins and that may be true. A swap meet was scheduled at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehallis Washington in early June and I wanted to go. I didn’t have anything that I needed, mind you, but I had been cowering in the corner for long enough.
I have several friends that like swap meets and one particularly demented friend said he wanted to go too. So, we planned to start out early, like O Dark Thirty, so we could get there early and not miss the bargain of a lifetime… you know, that deal. Our plan included a stop for breakfast along the way and we both figured that we’d be able to “dine in” since the China Virus restrictions were being lifted. At the first breakfast stop we made; we were surprised to learn that they didn’t have any indoor dining service. Off to the next choice. They had limited seating but indoor availability, so we indulged.
We were back on the road again shortly and the rain was spotty. Up ahead of us looked very ominous with huge dark clouds looming, but with our lust for rust spurring us on we used our intermittent wipers extensively and persevered.
Using todays amazing technology, Google maps, on my phone, we had fore warning of the exit and made it to the destination just as a small sun ray peeked through the clouds. The place was small, compact actually, but it was bustling. The parking lot was very full, but we managed to arrive just as someone loaded with treasures was leaving. We parked and headed for the Popup that looked like the way in.
The folks were friendly and open to my putting a stack of papers on the table for folks to take and we excitedly entered the first swap meet we were able to attend in a long time.
I have to pause here to say that neither one of us had much that we had gone looking for but, it was a swap meet! The first in over a year. And we both knew that there were things here that we needed, despite the fact that we didn’t really need anything. Another pause, we both have issues with our legs being old and worn out. Jim was using a cane and I’m just slow, hips and knees, don’t work quite right and are painful, but we were going to see everything there was to see and we weren’t going to be denied.
It wasn’t long before first I found something then Jim. Negotiations were hard fought, but deals were made, and money changed hands, treasures were bought. I realized that Jim had a real method in his bringing his cane. He couldn’t carry much because he was using the cane. So, the old cripple that wobbles got to carry this stuff back to the car.
Perhaps foolishly, perhaps not, I bought something that was too big to carry so when I went back to the car, I simply drove back to pick up the big stuff. Pretty clever don’t’ ya think?
Now, after nine years as a “professional” publisher/photo/journalist etc. etc. it’s going to be hard for you to believe, but understandable with all the anticipation and excitement, we didn’t take one picture! So much for professionalism. It probably doesn’t really matter though. There were just a bunch of rusty/dirty, bent and some broken, old car parts. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all, right? But I’ll bet you’d go anyway!