In his later years, my father went to flea markets and bought some of the most useless stuff you can imagine. “It was a bargain,” he’d say. “But it doesn’t work, Dad.” “Then I’ll use it for parts,” he’d say. “Besides, it could be an antique worth something. Leave my stuff alone.” .(Dad grew up in the depth of The Depression, and had to leave grade school to work. And one of the things he did early on was go into the rich areas of the city to salvage trash items. It affected his entire outlook on life. As a family, we could not get anything new … it had to be previously used and “a bargain.” Or something that could be fixed to work.).Well, what he bought hardly got used for parts, and didn’t turn out valuable, just enshrined glorified Junque. It accumulated to take over the basement and garage, and drove my mother crazy. Dad would look at it in after he retired, and got satisfaction in merely possessing it. It was sweet, but sad..When they moved, there was no place in their condo for much of it, so they had three huge garage sales and people bought the useless stuff (way below what Dad payed for it) and I eventually saw it back in the flea market at marked-up prices. I had lived with my Dad a while, and was now back home..Doubtless some other poor soul would buy it. I thought of it as “The Circle of Useless Crap.” How ironic, if some of it would actually turn out to be valuable. I half expect to see it someday on “Antique Roadshow.”
Sometime one of the malcontents from the ‘editorials’ side wanders over here to the ‘toon’ side. When they realize they’re lost they spray vitriol. It’s a defensive mechanism. They can’t help it. Thanks for your story. Reminded me of my own grandfather and his barn full of useful junk. The man never threw away so much as a bent nail. But he could fix anything.
emptc12, your story reminds me of myself, scrounging in dumpsters when I worked at the mall, going to auctions, and thrift stores. I stopped accumulating, and have downsized some, but I hardly get a chance to use any of the stuff because my wife’s project leave little time for my own. Those who grew up without much hate to pass on something that would save money in a future project, or otherwise be useful. Time and energy, or the money for the missing pieces of the project, so you can make use of the stuff, is often in short supply.
Ida No about 9 years ago
This is currently what’s going on over at Brewster Rocket.
emptc12 about 9 years ago
In his later years, my father went to flea markets and bought some of the most useless stuff you can imagine. “It was a bargain,” he’d say. “But it doesn’t work, Dad.” “Then I’ll use it for parts,” he’d say. “Besides, it could be an antique worth something. Leave my stuff alone.” .(Dad grew up in the depth of The Depression, and had to leave grade school to work. And one of the things he did early on was go into the rich areas of the city to salvage trash items. It affected his entire outlook on life. As a family, we could not get anything new … it had to be previously used and “a bargain.” Or something that could be fixed to work.).Well, what he bought hardly got used for parts, and didn’t turn out valuable, just enshrined glorified Junque. It accumulated to take over the basement and garage, and drove my mother crazy. Dad would look at it in after he retired, and got satisfaction in merely possessing it. It was sweet, but sad..When they moved, there was no place in their condo for much of it, so they had three huge garage sales and people bought the useless stuff (way below what Dad payed for it) and I eventually saw it back in the flea market at marked-up prices. I had lived with my Dad a while, and was now back home..Doubtless some other poor soul would buy it. I thought of it as “The Circle of Useless Crap.” How ironic, if some of it would actually turn out to be valuable. I half expect to see it someday on “Antique Roadshow.”
bmillard about 9 years ago
Sometime one of the malcontents from the ‘editorials’ side wanders over here to the ‘toon’ side. When they realize they’re lost they spray vitriol. It’s a defensive mechanism. They can’t help it. Thanks for your story. Reminded me of my own grandfather and his barn full of useful junk. The man never threw away so much as a bent nail. But he could fix anything.
prince valiant Premium Member about 9 years ago
These are called “Dollar Stores” out where I live.
grainpaw about 9 years ago
emptc12, your story reminds me of myself, scrounging in dumpsters when I worked at the mall, going to auctions, and thrift stores. I stopped accumulating, and have downsized some, but I hardly get a chance to use any of the stuff because my wife’s project leave little time for my own. Those who grew up without much hate to pass on something that would save money in a future project, or otherwise be useful. Time and energy, or the money for the missing pieces of the project, so you can make use of the stuff, is often in short supply.
Thomas & Tifffany Connolly about 9 years ago
Big Lots, Marshall’s, Tuesday Morning, and all other discount stores have this catagory covered.
up2trixx about 9 years ago
Must be an Apple store