My wife Wendy and I recently visited a couple of our favorite flea markets in the region.
As we walked up and down the aisles lined with booths full of the usual widely various (and largely random) stuff, we enjoyed a feeling of comfort brought on by an overall sense of familiarity. We had been to each location many times over a period of more than a decade, so the sights, smells and general layout of each space was nothing new.
But the familiarity went beyond just being inside a store we had often been inside before. As we wandered around, staring at all manner of objects (both valuable and otherwise) we realized we were both experiencing a notable level of déjà vu.
Basically, we felt like we were looking at some items for about the ninth time and were pretty sure the first time we had seen them was likely somewhere in the neighborhood of a decade ago. For real, I think some of the small oil lamps, well-worn wingtip shoes, sun tea jars, 35-milimeter film cameras and assorted other goods seemed vaguely etched in our memories from times long gone.
I’m pretty sure we had more than once laid eyes on some of the 4-in-1 wrenches, George Foreman grills and framed deer pictures that we were viewing. In fact, I have no doubt there were souvenir coffee mugs from Niagara Falls, VHS tapes of “Independence Day” and plastic salt-and-pepper shakers we had seen many times before that were sitting in the same spots on shelves, tables and floors they had occupied for many months of Sundays.
As the scenario unfolded before our eyes, we sort of mutually began to wonder: Which item has been here the longest? While nobody’s destiny hinges on the answer and nothing relevant to life would change if it were known, that’s still a very interesting question on several levels.
I’ve heard there are a percentage of people who use flea market booths as storage units, since in many cases renting a booth can be cheaper than renting an actual storage unit. Whether that’s true or not, it’s safe to say there are a number of folks who at least indirectly use the booths that way.
That’s because I’ve seen dusty old serving trays, coffee pots and carnival glass candy dishes that haven’t moved in one heck of long time. If you look closely, you can tell that some of those candle holders, frying pans and mystery novels have likely been right where they are since Archie Bunker was a humorous and controversial TV character and the word “viral” still referred to things related to a bodily virus.
So the question is: Which item holds the longevity record at a given flea market?
Is it the 78 RPM record of 1930s big band standards, the metal tool box with no shelf inside or the slightly cracked “vintage” makeup mirror on a stand? Or could it be the neon Falstaff Beer sign, the handmade wooden spice rack or the little Empire State Building pencil sharpener?
I’ve pondered it enough to conclude there’s just no way to know. And trust me, dust isn’t a viable deciding factor, because that’s often a tie.
If only that St. Louis Cardinals wall clock or that 1960s era Wilson 5-iron leaning in the corner could talk. I’m sure they would have quite a story to tell, and maybe they could share information that would solve this intriguing (albeit meaningless) mystery.
Anyway, I’ll bet I know at least one thing that will go through your mind next time you go to your favorite flea market.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald.
Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
