Day 3 - Antiquing

Day 3 - Antiquing

 It’s a raw, gray, cloudy, windy day here. Although it’s usually the kind of day you want to just stay indoors and bunker in, today I’ve decided to go antiquing. This has been a hobby of mine and my husbands for a handful of years now but it is something I was unfortunately, never able to do with Heather. The business I had opened in NC before we moved here was an “Antique Boutique” that was quickly a popular shop located in the heart of our quaint small downtown. Although due to moving to RI thus having to close shop after only one year, I was able to quickly reestablish my hobby of antique furniture restoration and have been able to open a booth in an Antique Mall in a nearby town. Heather was always so supportive of the hobbies I had over the years, the careers I hopped around to and it is so unfortunate that she was not able to see that I finally “figured it out.”

Anyhow, today I bundled myself up and hit the town. Since I live in a coastal, tourist town, everything is pretty much in walking distance. Stores, beaches, restaurants, bars and cafes of many sorts are literally right at my back door. So I made a quick stop to my favorite café for a cup of tea. I usually get a coffee or green tea Jasmine blend but today I decided to try a new blend. I got a hot cup of the locally blended “Fleur De Lis” tea (super yummy btw). And then, I was off.

As I was walking down the street, I found myself smiling, nodding and saying hello to people as they passed me by. Everyone seemed so friendly today for such a “yucky” weather day. Upon further thought, I realized….maybe it was me. Although I have always been a friendly, happy kind-a girl, never short of words and never afraid of a conversation with a stranger, I have found the East Coast to be a little “harder” and “gruffer” on the exterior. People are people I know but here they seem so much more reserved and closed in. I have started making local friends but it was NOT easy. Either way, walking through my day with a specific intention with a specific goal for what seems to be the “greater good” (remembering, honoring and healing) has already started to make such a difference in my world. As I walked, I found myself taking very deep breaths, feeling the crisp air expanding my lungs and literally watching my breath as I let it all out. Taking every breath with appreciation and gratitude, thinking all the while that I truly believe Heather would be so honored and proud of this endeavor/journey I am on.

So I walked into the local Antique Mall with the intention of appreciating as many objects that I could. This would not be a day for me to buy anything. This would not be a day to assess furniture pieces that I could restore and sell. This is a day of appreciating as many items as I could in all their aged glory, thinking of all the history and “stories” behind the myriads of silver, wood, brass, crystal, glass and metal items. The vintage and antique jewelry, furniture, phones, stemware, dishes, local historic items, chandeliers (which by the way I’m completely obsessed with), personal items, vintage toys, art pieces, etc. etc. etc.

What a beautiful and endearing way to spend this cold, gray day.

 

Collection of vintage & antique phones