A memories spree (story 1)

 I am on a memories spree thinking about and writing about my days of collecting. I know what caused it but do not remember the exact date that it began. I was teaching and met an interesting woman and we became friends. She and her husband invited us to their little bungalow on some estate on Sciota River Road. The minute I walked into this charming little house everything became small.  There were what I called miniatures everywhere. Little furniture strategically placed with tiny punch bowl and cups in glass, little covered butters with matching sugar bowls, creamers, and spooners comprising a set. Glass took over my life in that couple of hours that we spent there.  I could not wait to get home and start researching.  That was a problem.  There was no research to be had and believe me, I looked because I was obsessed. The need to find these items became my prime goal and the hunt was on. It was meant to be, because I read there was a 'show' in Cincinnati within a couple of weeks and we were going to be in Cincinnati visiting relatives, so I asked my sister-in-law if she wanted to venture to the convention building to see this event.  As we climbed the steps I kept asking, do you think they sell these items or are they just showing them off like a museum?  Well, obviously she did not know, but I speculated on. I remember opening the double doors and bam,  there it was in all its glory, The Cox Antiques Show, my first of hundreds. This was the late seventies and it was a most exciting period in my life...and a costly one. Never mind, it was a great investment in life and I was happy to be able to contribute to the family funds from then on up to 2005 when I ended it.

As Glenda and I walked into the show, I was able to gasp out instructions of what to look for. She was a clever girl and took one aisle and I took another and all of a sudden I heard her scream, "Doris, come here, hurry." Well, now she's done it, she's broken something...I looked for an exit. But, she was the driver and I had to face it.  I found her grinning from ear to ear, bless her heart now and forever. There in front of us was an entire six-foot table covered with miniature glass, exactly what I was looking for and, it was for sale. I was gobsmacked! The dealer knew she had a sucker on the hook and she played it cool. Finally, I bought a table stand a matching lemonade set in the Nursery Rhyme pattern for $90. had I lost my mind I wondered while asking if she had more glass at home.  She grumpily admitted she did and I brazenly asked if I could come back next weekend to shop at her home and she begrudgingly (an act) said that  I could. And, we are off...more next time.