By Linda Manning
My daughter, Laurie, and I like to go to the flea markets, antique shops, garage sales and Goodwill, which we call GW. We don’t buy much, it’s just the idea of getting out there and seeing what’s for sale. She likes antiques and I like jewelry. Just being able to spend time together as she lives in Maple Valley and I in Lakewood. It’s an eighty-mile round-trip for either one of us, so we don’t get together as often as we like.
Yesterday, though, she picked me up and we went to the Rebel Junk Market held at the Tacoma Dome. We finally found our way in off of I-5 despite all the road construction and confusing signs. Same thing trying to get back on I-5.
We were surprised there weren’t throngs of people there, but a lot of vendors. After talking to some of them, it was apparent the event wasn’t well advertised, just small local community notices. One or two vendors said they would not come back again.
There was the typical flea market stuff as well as vintage items you see so often. Dolls, toys, farm items, dishes, books, furniture, linens, etc., etc. A few odd-ball items. Two young ladies had a stall where they displayed items they had bought, then refurbished, like the TV show Flea Market Flip. Mostly furniture, very innovated and well done. They hadn’t sold anything. Very disheartening for them. One stall had a lot of old vintage Halloween items for sale. Masks, posters, signs, lunchboxes, window hang-ups, costumes and cards. You name it. I hadn’t seen some of these items since I was a kid!
Another lady had her beautiful stone jewelry necklaces displayed on small six-inch by eight-inch plaques with written background information on the type of stone and where it came from plus cost. I thought that was clever as you didn’t have to keep asking what the stone was.
Laurie bought a nice wall plaque and a couple of small rusted cut-out flat metal pieces. She got an old truck and one or two flowers. Some man in the area does that work. I ended up buying two old beaded clutch purses which were in excellent condition. Prices seem to be very reasonable.
We finally left and headed back to Lakewood where Laurie treated me to lunch at Sizzler’s. Steak, loaded back potatoes, toast and a salad. To top it off, apple crumb cobbler. I had plain lemonade, she had raspberry lemonade. We had a wonderful day together just being mother and daughter.
Lakewood, Washington 9/29/2018
