You're going to laugh when I tell you that I donated my rain boots several weeks ago. Of all things to pitch- just before the hurricane and then my getaway trip to Brimfield where it rained and flooded. (I did indeed go back to try to retrieve them a few days after that dumb move, but it was too late. They were gone, snatched by a volunteer or donater, perhaps in anticipation of the hurricane. One of the older volunteer sorters helped me look for them and when we couldn't find them said, "Don't give up hope, dearie- we looked all over for some odd little thing for another lady. It took us a few days but we finally found it!" [Oh, jeez, I couldn't tell her that was ME!])

Anyway, I borrowed my daughter's boots and took off with my old friend and co-author Barbara Martin for my first ever trip to Brimfield. I'm on a collecting diet- actually a fast, but I went for the getaway and just wanted to see. I'll never forget it.

I felt so badly for the dealers and the town of Brimfield - still trying to recover from a recent tornado. But even though the rain was epic, it made every step an adventure or a laugh.

Though not the best of days for an outdoor flea market, everyone we encountered was in good spirits and quite happy to see the sun. At this point, for me, it's no longer all about the stuff. The good time is worth so, so much more. (And my family was thrilled to hear that I only bought a few trinkets for my classes next week at TCC!)