A
Different Slice of Life
“Economy
does not lie in sparing money, but in spending it wisely.”
Thomas
Huxley
I'm
learning about a whole new world. I am working part-time for my son,
who is employed at a shop in downtown Birmingham known as “What's
on 2nd.” They sell all sorts of old stuff, from turn of
the century post cards to neon beer signs and everything in between.
It's a cultural explosion of a place and the people who come and go
are as curious as the organized chaos of the shop. There is a
collective of folks called “pickers” who come in with things they
want to sell. Who knew that some people make their living driving
around the country, sniffing out old stuff to buy? You might imagine
that such people come from the underbelly of society, but truly, they
represent a cross section of all strata.
Yesterday,
for instance, a nicely dressed, obviously-well-to-do woman came in
with a box full of this and that from her basement. My son bought it
for her asking price, and started going through it. One thing he
pulled out was a “vintage video game” (you may be wondering, as I
did, just how vintage a video game can possibly be) still in its
factory sealed box. When he looked it up online, he found that one
exactly like it, which had been “rated” by people who apparently
make their living rating the “mintness” of such things as sports
cards and video games, sold for (wait for it...) $18,000.00. For one
old video game that will never be taken out of its box and played!
Now, if that makes sense to you, let me know. But as for me...that's
just crazy!
I
do find that dealing in “commerce” is an altering experience.
What has no value to one, may be worth thousands to another. Knowing
this has changed me into something of a mercenary. I look at things
differently now. I wonder to myself, 'how much would that bring on
ebay' and I go to my computer and look it up. I can see how addictive
buying and selling could be, and why there are “pickers” in the
world. They are the modern equivalent of the 49-ers who rushed out to
California to pan for gold; or the divers who scavenge ship-wrecks on
the bottom of the ocean. There is a mystery to it, a possibility of
grand discovery. And it's fun.
I
love the fact that the world is still full of surprises, even if some
of them are mind-boggling. I hope your day brings a trove of
unexpected happiness.
In
the spirit,
Jane
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