It was an outing with my sister, Terry that would bring two interesting strangers our way. The ride to the Scott’s Antiques Market was interesting enough as we ended up in Peachtree City instead of the actual location. We should have known that since we live in a city with thousands of Peachtree Streets and Martin Luther King Boulevards there must be two Jonesboro Roads. Directions in Atlanta can be challenging with or without a GPS.
Scott’s is an interesting place with two buildings separated by the bridge that crosses I-285. It is filled with overpriced crap…umm, I mean beautiful eclectic items to fill your beautiful home that hold the scent of an elderly person’s home…umm, I mean it doesn’t smell at all. However, it is an Everyone has a story kinda place! And, to some vendors it’s an every item has a story! Some of the best liars all over the country come to sell antiques that were purchased from estate sales in London from the Queen herself! So buyers beware and watch the noses as the stories are told to you, for you will see them grow just like Pinocchio’s!
As we strolled isle by isle looking at the different booth’s we stumbled upon a man sitting at a electric piano playing and singing for…umm, the other vendors. He was at a booth that was filled with antique telephones and was certain that you should have one for your home. These antique phones were some we used as a teenager so let me tell you that this booth was an insult to someone that remains 29! This man with his jet black dyed hair had a smile that just made you stop and wonder what he had to be so happy about. He was playing his piano and I stopped to watch and listen. He was delighted that someone other than the vendors had taken an interest in his talent and asked our names. Instantly a personal song was written in his head about Terry and Dee Ann. It was quite catchy and could be a hit on a station that is completely unheard of. He had a stack of books on a table in front of him that of course I picked up and inquired about. As Terry began to see where this chance meeting was going with this stranger (you see she knows me better than anyone) she pretended to be interested in the telephones to send a hint that we should move on. But, oh no….I had to hear his story! I said, “Wow, this is you in the book and you are with Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Jackie Gleason…what’s the story here and why are you at the Scott’s Antique Market?” He explained that he was in the entertainment industry back in the Big Band era and hung out with all of them. He dated Dinah, partied with Dean, and said that Jackie was an alcoholic. His book is filled with his story and pictures of their times together. The outfits were hilarious! He beamed as he shared his memories reliving the days long gone. I asked again how he ended up at the Market selling the telephones. He explained that he wasn’t wise with his money blowing it on women and booze and having a great time doing it. The young entertainers were not advised back in the day on retirement investments. So, there he sat! It was sad really...to see someone that was in the limelight during the Big Band era peddling his telephones and holding on to the dream of someone coming along that would maybe take an interest in making a movie about his life. As Terry grew frustrated with the length of my interest in this stranger’s life and after examining each and every telephone available on the table, I took the hint and moved on thanking the gentleman for the conversation and song. Terry said, “Why do you have to get to know everyone?” I know that my interest in hearing someone’s story drives anyone with me crazy. They don’t understand it and I can’t understand why they are not as interested in hearing the stories as I am. We chatted about how happy the entertainer seemed filled with the memories of his past! If anyone is looking for an antique telephone check out the booth in Building One…you may get a song out of it!
One story from an entertainer holding on to his dream out of the hundreds of possible stories that were filled in Building one and two was not bad for the day. Until….we got ready to leave and decided to buy some fruit and vegetables from the man at the stand outside. We approached the stand hearing the elderly gentleman ranting with a customer about the injustice of our judicial process and his frustration with no one listening to his family’s plight. As I looked over the muscadines and tomatoes, my everyone has a story interest was peaked. The customer was listening as he continued ranting and bagging up her items. She was not an everyone has a story kinda woman much like my sister. If you have been following my stories you know by now that I just had to ask him about the injustice. His pain and frustration level was so high that he was ready to tell the world and was praying that the Governor would show up at any moment to listen. He explained that his son was in prison and unjustly accused of child molestation with a family member. His wife was ill and was getting worse from the stress of the situation. He said the court would not listen, the lawyer was an idiot, and made the statement that if he had a gun…blah blah blah! Oh my, I agreed with my sister in that moment. Some stories just shouldn’t be shared with the general public as you sell fruits and vegetables. He and his wife were suffering physically and emotionally because of their adult son. I quickly said a prayer and asked to be given something from the Lord that would give this Dad peace and comfort. I was reading “Hinds Feet on High Places” at that time and asked if he had read the book. He said, “Oh yea, years ago.” I suggested that he revisit it and pray that God will help him and his family with this journey. My heart broke for this elderly man and his wife. Worrying about their grown children should not be something they had to do while selling fruits and vegetables. I paid for my items and told him that I would be praying for him. As Terry and I walked to the car we looked at each other and both said, “WOW.” I said how in the world did that just happen? He wished he had a gun…Terry looked dead in my eyes and said, “It happened when you said, “Why is your son in jail.” She said, “You should have never asked that question.” We both had a good laugh at my need to hear the story. It’s the chance you take when you meet a stranger. Some are willing to pull out the entire family garbage and dump it right at your feet if you will listen. And, listening is the only way to hear some of the juicy stories!
There are moments in our lives that happen with strangers if we only take the opportunity to get to know each other and allow ourselves the time to share a little of us with them. This was one of my moments.
Thank you Scott’s Antique Market!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment