It looked as if I had a tire going flat on the car this morning so I drove into McLain, like the deadest little hamlet in America, to have my friend who works at Western Auto check the air pressure in said tire. Nope, everything okay. Bless his heart it was only 9am and it's so hot and humid he was drenched with sweat already.

Another customer was waiting--he had a long wheel bed double cab pickup and I remarked he must get awful gas mileage. We got to talking and this AARP age guy had a Yankee accent. Turns out he's from Wisconsin. He and his wife have moved to our tiny burg to take care of his mother in law. He was bemoaning Mississippi politics and the lack of activities and concern for senior citizens. Well welcome to Mississippi. I couldn't disagree with a thing he said.

Across the street there were some people having a garage sale. It turned out that a little ole lady of the family had died and her things were up for sale. I bought a wheelchair in pretty good shape for $20.00--by golly next time I go to a writer's meeting at the cavernous library in Hattiesburg and can't walk the mile to the back of the place, I can wheel myself there.

The contents of the lady's curio cabinet were laid out on tables--an entire table of angel figurines, another table of dolphin and fish figurines, glassware, and a beautiful Carnival Glass iridescent ruby red fruit bowl. It was very heavy, etched with flowers and pineapples. People who collect Carnival glass would have given an arm for it. I paid $1.00. Also picked up some tiny brass bud vases.

It got me to thinking--the deceased woman's tchotze's were precious to her--all the knick knacks were in excellent condition. The things that had meant a lot to her were now being sold for a pittance, laid bare out on tables for strangers to fondle. When I'm gone I know my kids will do the same with my "collectibles." Thus is life, eh?

susil