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| A Victorian Oil, Unsigned, Found in Muskoka |
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| A Gravenhurst, Ontario Business Card From Yesteryear. |
SOME ANTIQUE DEALERS CAN COPE WITH ESTATES WITHOUT EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS - WE CAN'T
IMMERSION IS ENTIRELY NECESSARY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE PROVENANCE OF THE COLLECTION
WE GET HELP FROM THE RESIDENT "CASPERS"
YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THIS, ABOUT MY FAMILY, BUT WE'RE WEIRD. A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTRE . "PEOPLE HAVING STRANGE HABITS, AND STRANGER ASSOCIATIONS!" BUT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE US TO BE KINDRED SPIRITS. THAT IS....IF YOU HALF OR FULLY BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GHOSTS....OR THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE ACTIVELY, WITH THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED OVER. YOU CAN READ ABOUT SOME OF THEIR ENCOUNTERS, IN BARBARA SMITH'S WELL KNOWN, "GHOST STORIES OF ONTARIO," AND FOR ME, IN A BOOK WRITTEN BY JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO, ON CANADIAN PARANORMAL OCCURRENCES. SUZANNE AND ANDREW HAVE BOTH HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH ALLEGED GHOSTS, IN HOUSES WE HAVE LIVED IN, HERE IN MUSKOKA. ROBERT IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS REMAINED DETACHED FROM PARANORMAL QUALITIES AND QUANTITIES. I THINK HE MAY HAVE SEEN AN ALIEN. HE KEEPS THIS ONE UNDER HIS TIN FOIL HAT SO TO SPEAK. POINT IS, WE HAVE DANCED WITH THE PARANORMAL QUITE BY HAPPENSTANCE.....AND NOT BECAUSE WE EMPLOYED A MEDIUM, OR WENT ON A GHOST HUNT. WE DON'T FEAR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, AND BENEFIT FROM IT, TRUTH BE KNOWN. WE LIKE TO THINK WE GET ADVICE IN THE ANTIQUE FIELD, FROM THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SOURCES......THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED AND LEARNED BEFORE US. THIS APPEARS A STRANGE ADMISSION FROM A CONSERVATIVE FAMILY, BUT HONESTLY, THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO TO MAKE IT READ, AS IF UNCOMPROMISINGLY NORMAL.
AT THIS MOMENT, I AM WRITING IN ANDREW AND ROBERT'S MUSIC STUDIO, HERE AT THE FAMILY BUSINESS, IN THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING, ON MUSKOKA ROAD.....OPPOSITE THE HISTORIC GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. SPEAKING OF STRANGE. YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE STUFF THAT GOES ON HERE, DAY TO DAY, WITH THE CONSTANT FLOW OF MUSICIANS (NOT GHOSTS), OLD-VINYL HEADS, ANTIQUE HUNTERS, DEALERS, COLLECTORS, AND A WIDE ARRAY OF COUNTRY PHILOSOPHERS; AND FOLKS WHO TREAT THIS PLACE AS IF IT IS A SANCTUARY OF THE HOPELESSLY NOSTALGIC.
I'LL LOOK UP FROM MY LAPTOP, AND THERE WILL BE TWO MUSICIANS I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, TRYING OUT GUITARS THE BOYS HAVE JUST ACQUIRED. IT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MUSICIANS. THEY ARE SO DARN RELAXED; THEY JUST GREET ME, ASK WHAT I'M WRITING, TAKE ONE OF MY COOKIES, AND START JAMMING WITHOUT ANY FEELING, THEY MIGHT BE INTRUDING UPON THE ARTIST AT HIS ENTERPRISE. I DON'T THINK THEY'D WORRY IF I WAS SITTING HERE IN MY UNDERWEAR. IT'S A CRAZY WAY TO RELAX, AND COMPARED TO THE DAYS WHEN I WORKED IN A BUSY NEWSROOM, GADS, IT'S A LITTLE HEAVEN ON EARTH. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T QUITE FIGURED OUT, IS HOW TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE OVERLAPPING EVENTS, HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE STUDIO; AND THE SUDDEN BREAK-OUT PERFORMANCES THAT OCCUR AT TIMES, BY PASSION AND OPPORTUNITY.
MY STORY LINE CHANGES ABOUT TEN TIMES, FROM THE POINT I PRINT THE FIRST WORDS, OF THE OPENING PARAGRAPH, ON THIS INFERNAL FLICKERING SCREEN. IN ORDER TO COPE WITH ALL THIS, AND KNOWING THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO USE THEIR STUDIO AS MY WRITING PORTAL THIS WINTER, (BECAUSE I HAVE TO HELP WITH THE STORE), I KEEP A COPY OF PAUL RIMSTEAD'S "COCKTAILS AND JOCKSTRAPS," CLOSE BY, FOR A LITTLE FRONT-LINE INSPIRATION. RIMSTEAD, THE FORMER COLUMNIST (AND PART TIME JAZZ DRUMMER) FOR THE TORONTO SUN, AND THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF ALL US POOR BASTARDS IN THE WRITING PROFESSION, KNEW HOW TO WORK IN THE MIDST OF SOCIAL / CULTURAL CALAMITY; AND TURN IT INTO A HIGHLY READABLE COLUMN FOR THE COMMON FOLK OUT THERE. LIKE THE ONES WHO KNEW WHAT "NSF" MEANT WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH; OR WHO HAD A CAR LIKE HIS "RUSTY RITA," THAT SPENT MORE TIME INA SERVICE BAY THAN ON THE ROAD. HE ALSO WROTE FOR THE EDMONTON AND CALGARY SUNS. THANKS TO HIS TRICKS OF THE TRADE, FOR HANDLING HAPPENSTANCE, NOW I COULD EVEN INCORPORATE GETTING HIT IN THE HEAD, WITH A WILDLY FLUNG SANDWICH, OR HAVE A SOGGY ROOF TILE HIT MY FOREHEAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF A WRITING JAG; AND I DARE SAY, IT WOULDN'T SEEM TOO MUCH OUT OF PLACE, WHEN THE STORY IS PUBLISHED. SO HIS WRITING KEEPS UP MY DYNAMIC FOR SUDDEN, AND OFTEN RIDICULOUS CHANGES IN SCENERY, AND ACTIVITY AROUND ME. I TALK TO PAUL DAILY. THE ONLY THING IS, HE'S CROSSED OVER, AND I'M STILL HERE IN THE MORTAL GRIND, OF TRYING TO TURN THE OCCASIONAL PROFIT. GOD IT'S FUN. JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW HOW AND WHERE THESE BLOGS ARE WRITTEN. ANYTHING GOES AS THEY SAY. JUST NOW, BY THE WAY, SOMEBODY HAS GONE WILD ON THE DRUMS IN THE NEXT ROOM....A SORT OF GENE KRUPA ARRANGEMENT, THAT IS SHAKING ALL THE ART WORK IN THE STUDIO. ROB INFORMED ME, AFTER A TAP ON THE BRIM OF MY BALL CAP, THAT HE WAS JUST LOOKING AT A GENE KRUPA RECORD A FEW MOMENTS AGO, TOTALLY UNRELATED FROM THE PRESENT DRUMMING NEXT DOOR. WE HAVE A LOT OF STRANGE COINCIDENCES LIKE THIS, BUT ALWAYS SO DARN LIGHT-HEARTED, AND FULL OF EXPECTATION. ALWAYS SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT. LET'S JUST SAY, ANY WRITER WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS CONGENIAL MADNESS GOING ON AROUND THEM FOR INSPIRATION.
A PREAMBLE CAT STORY TO SET THE MOOD
FIRST OF ALL, HERE IS MY CAT STORY FOR THE WEEK. YOU SEE, WHENEVER I WRITE ABOUT THE PARANORMAL, I DREAM ABOUT IT THAT SAME NIGHT. NEVER FAILS. I CAN WRITE ABOUT IT FOR THESE BLOGS, AND PRINT-WORK I DO FOR OTHER PUBLICATIONS, BUT BASED ON INTENSITY, I SUPPOSE, THE NIGHTMARES THAT FOLLOW ARE PRETTY CRAZY. I CAN BE VERY MATTER OF FACT ABOUT GHOSTS AND THE PARANORMAL GENERALLY, IN MY EDITORIAL COPY, BUT BY ABOUT TWO IN THE MORNING, I'M LAYING THERE IN BED, IN A COLD SWEAT, THINKING TO MYSELF....WAS THAT A DREAM, OR WAS I JUST IN THE BACK OF A HORSE DRAWN HEARSE? SO I START CHECKING THE OLD BODY PARTS OUT, TO MAKE SURE I'M STILL AMONGST THE LIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. IT'S NOTHING NEW. BUT IT IS UNSETTLING, NONE THE LESS. TALK ABOUT BEING HAUNTED BY YOUR PROFESSION. SO WHILE I MIGHT APPEAR CUCUMBER-COOL, PREPARING THE BLOGS, GEEZ, I'M SHIVERING MY TIMBERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WONDERING IF THE SOUND I'M HEARING, IS ACTUALLY THE GRAVE-DIGGER'S SHOVEL FILLING IN THE HOLE....WITH ME IN IT! THEN I REALIZE IT'S JUST SUZANNE SNORING. DON'T TELL HER I WROTE THIS, OR I'LL HAVE TO MOVE IN WITH YOU FOLKS....AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT!
SO HERE'S A GOOD ONE FOR YOU. KEEPING IN MIND, THAT I HAD JUST WOKEN UP, THINKING I HAD BEEN SHIPPED GRAVESIDE IN A BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED "FULL VICTORIAN" HORSE DRAWN HEARSE, LIKE THE ONES I WROTE ABOUT YESTERDAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM ANYWAY, SO I JUST SHIVERED WITH THE REMNANTS OF MY GREATEST FEAR, OF BEING BURIED ALIVE, AND BUMPED AND STUMBLED MY WAY INTO THE HALL BETWEEN BEDROOMS. THREE OF FOUR CATS WERE STARING AT ME, FROM THE CUPBOARD THEY SLEEP ON, LEAVING ONE LITTLE BUGGER MISSING FROM THE PICTURE. AS CATS ARE REASONABLY PREDICTABLE, AND I'VE GOT USED TO SEEING THEM ON THE DRESSER, EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE BEDROOM, IT DID CROSS MY MIND, THAT ZAPPA WAS SLEEPING SOME PLACE SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO....AND THAT COULD MEAN AMONGST MY OIL LAMP COLLECTION. NOW THAT IS A NO-NO WITH US, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME OF THE LAMPS FULL OF FUEL, IN CASE THE POWER WAS TO GO OUT IN ONE OF THESE WINTER STORMS WE'VE BEEN HAVING. JUST ON A QUICK GLANCE, THERE WERE NO COMPROMISES ON THE TABLE. NO CAT. THERE WAS HOWEVER, A STRANGE BRUSHING AND RUBBING SOUND, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT. I FREAK OUT EASILY WHEN I HEAR SOUNDS THAT AREN'T NORMAL TO BIRCH HOLLOW....LIKE DRIPS AND BANGS. I MAKE MYSELF CRAZY LISTENING FOR SOUNDS, THAT IN SOME WAY, MEAN EITHER A LEAK INTO THE OLD ROOF, OR THE PORCH FALLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF SNOW. SO I AM ALERT, PRETTY SOON AFTER WAKING, BECAUSE I ALWAYS BELIEVE THE CATS DID SOMETHING BAD, THAT CAUSED A CRASH OR THUD IN THE LIVINGROOM. MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S JUST A TRICK OF DREAMLAND. SOMETIMES IT'S AS SIMPLE AS ONE OF THE BOYS TAKING A HALF-GAINER ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR, TRIPPING OVER A FELINE TRAVELLER. WE TRIP A LOT. WE HAVE FIVE CATS THAT GET UNDER-FOOT CONSTANTLY. BUT WE LOVE THEM.
I MUST FOOTNOTE HERE THAT SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO, WE HEARD ROUGHLY THE SAME SOUND IN THE CORNER OF OUR LIVINGROOM, WHERE WE HAVE TWO OLD PUMP ORGANS SITUATED. THE OLDEST ORGAN CAME FROM THE FORMER UFFORD UNITED CHURCH, BEING THE PERIOD OF 1870-85. WE BROUGHT IT HOME FROM THE COTTAGE IN WINDERMERE, AFTER THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD. THE BELLOWS IS SHOT BUT IT'S STILL A NICE PIECE OF FURNITURE. THERE IS ONE AREA ON THE TOP PANEL, ABOVE THE KEYBOARD, WHERE SOME OF THE GINGERBREAD OVER THE SOUND-HOLE OF THE ORGAN, HAS BEEN BROKEN AWAY BY YEARS OF POOR HANDLING, BEFORE WE BROUGHT IT HOME. THE COTTAGE WASN'T HEATED SO THE COLD WEATHER WAS HARSH ON IT FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. WHEN SUZANNE INVESTIGATED THE SOUND, PREVIOUSLY, THINKING THE CAT WAS GETTING INTO SOME PLACE SHE WASN'T WELCOME, THE SOUNDS WOULD STOP. NO ZAPPA. I HAD MY SUSPICIONS, BUT SOON AFTER WE'D LOOK, ZAPPA WOULD TROT OUT TO THE KITCHEN FOR FOOD.
SO KEEPING THIS IN MIND, AND THE MOST RECENT NIGHTMARE, THAT HAD BEADED SWEAT ON MY BROW, AND GIVEN ME THE "WEE" SHAKES, I TURNED IN THE HALL, TO LOOK AT THE SPOT WHERE THIS NOISE WAS COMING FROM....AND THAT WAS, BY CLOSER INSPECTION, INSIDE THE HEART OF THE OLD ORGAN. AFTER WRITING ABOUT THE PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES WE'VE HAD WITH ANTIQUES IN THE PAST, I REALLY WONDERED WHETHER THIS ORGAN WAS "PUMPING UP" BY ITSELF.... TO THE REALITY OF ACTUALLY BEING PLAYED. THERE WAS A TUNE HERE, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE FUZZY. FUNNIER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AROUND HERE.
I WAS PRETTY SURE I WAS AWAKE, BUT WHAT I SAW NEXT MADE ME DOUBT IT FOR A FEW SECONDS. FROM THIS SMALL HOLE, ABOVE THE KEYBOARD, WHERE THE MISSING GINGERBREAD HAD BEEN REMOVED, I WATCHED AN INCREDIBLE MORPHING OF ORGAN, INTO LIVING CREATURE. FIRST I SAW TWO EYES GLISTENING IN THE LIGHT, LOOKING OUT OF THE HOLE. THEN I SAW AN ANIMAL FACE, AND TWO EARS, BEING PUSHED THROUGH THE VERY SMALL OPENING. YOUR HEART KIND OF STOPS AT THIS POINT. I ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT ZAPPA AFTER A FEW MORE SECONDS, WHEN I WAS SURE IT WAS A REAL CRITTER AND NOT A CARRY OVER OF A BAD DREAM. SOMEHOW, THE CAT HAD GOT-IN THROUGH AN OPENING NEAR THE PEDALS, AT THE BASE, AND BEEN ABLE TO JUMP A COUPLE OF LEVELS, TO THIS SHALLOW LEDGE ABOVE THE KEYBOARD. IT WAS LIKE A SCENE FROM THE MOVIE "ALIEN." SUZANNE CAME OUT WHEN ZAPPA WAS HALFWAY THROUGH THE OPENING, AND SHE TOO COULDN'T BELIEVE HER EYES. "IT'S OKAY DEAR. THE ORGAN JUST GAVE BIRTH," I REPLIED, TO HER ORIGINAL GASP, AT HOW THE CAT COULD EMERGE FROM A HOLE SO TINY. TRUTH IS, ZAPPA IS A LONG HAIRED CAT, AND IF SHE WAS WITHOUT FUR, WOULD LOOK LIKE A GARDEN VARIETY SQUIRREL.
MY TICKER DIDN'T NEED THIS ON TOP OF THE NIGHTMARE, NOT TO MENTION BEING SCARED BY SUZANNE'S SUDDEN APPEARANCE ON THE SCENE. "I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU," SHE SHOT BACK. "NO DEAR, JUST SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAT." SHE ASSURED ME THAT, "NO, IT'S YOUR CAT REMEMBER?" ZAPPA, NAMED IN FRANK'S HONOR, IS ACTUALLY SON ROBERT'S CAT, THAT WE FEED, AND CLEAN, AND SCOOP FOR....AND RESCUE FROM TIGHT SPOTS IT LIKES TO EXPLORE. THE REASON I MENTION ALL THIS, IS THAT I NEVER WRITE SOMETHING, THAT I DON'T DREAM ABOUT LATER....AND THE PARANORMAL ALWAYS INSPIRES NIGHTMARES. ALWAYS.
ESTATES AND OUR INVESTMENT
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER DEALERS IN OUR PROFESSION. BUT I DON'T THINK I'M GOING OUT ON A LIMB, TO SUGGEST, THAT BUYING AND SORTING-OUT ESTATES, CAN BE EMOTIONALLY DRAINING. WE'VE HAD ONES THAT WERE UPLIFTING AND EXCITING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SAD BY THE REALITY, THE ONLY REASON WE WERE ON SITE, WAS BECAUSE OF A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE FAMILY PACKS IT UP, AND HAS IT READY FOR US TO BRING TO THE SHOP. WE SETTLE FINANCES, SHAKE HANDS, AND GET ON WITH BUSINESS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORK IN THE SAME HOUSE WHERE A DEATH MAY HAVE OCCURRED. THERE WAS ONE RARE OCCASION, WHERE SUZANNE AND AN ASSOCIATE, WERE INVITED BY AN ELDERLY WOMAN, TO INVESTIGATE THE VALUE OF HER POSSESSIONS, STILL REMAINING IN A VERY OLD COTTAGE ON LAKE ROSSEAU, THAT HAD JUST BEEN SOLD. I COULD HAVE WRITTEN A MOVIE SCRIPT ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS SO REMINISCENT OF HOLLYWOOD FLICKS, ABOUT OLD AGE AND SETTLING-UP OF ONE'S LIFE-LONG AFFAIRS....AND OH SO MANY STORY-FILLED HOURS HANDLING SOME OF THE HEIRLOOMS TO BE SOLD OFF. SUZANNE GOT A HISTORY LESSON FROM THE OWNER....WHO HAD THE SAD CHORE OF CLEANING OUT WHAT HAD BELONGED TO HER GRANDPARENTS ORIGINALLY, AND THEN HER PARENTS BEFORE HER. "MY FAMILY HAS PICKED OUT WHAT THEY WANT FROM HERE, AND LEFT THESE PIECES BEHIND. IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM, I'LL JUST LEAVE THEM FOR THE NEW OWNERS; I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD A NEW ONE ANYWAY," SHE SAID, WITH TEARS WELLING IN HER EYES. THIS SAME FAMILY HAD HUGE CONNECTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT HAD BEEN A MEETING PLACE OF SIGNIFICANT CANADIANS, SINCE THE LATE 1800'S, INCLUDING VISITS BY NATIVE POETESS PAULINE JOHNSTON, AUTHOR OF "THE SONG MY PADDLE SINGS," AND OTHER WORK REFERENCING THE "SHADOW RIVER," IN ROSSEAU. WHAT BEGAN FROM A CALL ABOUT "A FEW THINGS TO SELL," BECAME SO MUCH MORE TO US.....BECAUSE THESE PIECES, IN OUR RESPECT FOR HISTORY, HAD BEEN IN THE PRESENCE, AND POSSIBLY THE USE, OF ONE OR MORE LEGENDARY CANADIAN AUTHORS.
THIS MAY SEEM FRIVOLOUS AND "WHO CARES ABOUT THIS STUFF," BUT IN OUR LINE OF WORK, IT DOES MATTER, AND IT DOES INCREASE THE ATTRACTION OF SUCH ANTIQUE ITEMS. UNLESS PAULINE JOHNSTON SIGNED A PIECE, IT DOESN'T MEAN THE ITEMS ARE MORE VALUABLE....JUST MORE "STORIED," WHICH APPEALS TO QUITE A FEW OF OUR BUYERS....WHO APPRECIATE PROVENANCE BEING ATTACHED. IT WAS SAD FOR SUZANNE, BECAUSE OVER A WEEK OR SO, SHE HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT OUT ON THE PORCH WITH THE WOMAN, LOOKING OUT OVER THE LAKE, TALKING ABOUT THE GRAND DAYS OF SUMMER SHE HAD SPENT HERE.....A PLACE SHE WOULD SOON NO LONGER BE ABLE TO VISIT....A LANDSCAPE THAT WOULD BE CHANGED BY THE MODERNISTS WHO HAD LITTLE INTEREST IN VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE; UNLESS IT WAS A CONTEMPORARY REPRODUCTION. SHE HAD WORKED UP A PRETTY GOOD FRIENDSHIP BY THE END, AND WE HAULED AWAY TWENTY OR SO BOXES OF CHINA AND GLASS, AND ONE TABLE-TOP VICTROLA.
ON SUZANNE'S DEPARTURE THAT SUMMER AFTERNOON, WITH HER FRIEND JOAN, SHE REMEMBERED LOOKING BACK, AND LIKE SCENES FROM THOSE GREAT OLD MOVIES ABOUT "MOVING ON," AND "LIFE CHANGES," SHE COULD SEE THE WOMAN'S SILHOUETTE AGAINST THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN, STANDING UP ON THE HILLSIDE, AS SHE LOOKED OUT OVER THE LAKE; THE LAST FEW REMNANTS OF HER FAMILY'S STAKE IN THE COTTAGE, NOW AT THE FINAL LINE - OF THE FINAL RECKONING OF A REALLY GOOD BIOGRAPHY. IN SOME WAYS, IT MADE HAULING THE ARTICLES AWAY, SEEM SOMEWHAT UN-POETIC, AND UNKIND, BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS THE WOMAN DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT MAKING A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT HAD BEEN THE CASE INSTEAD, SHE JUST WANTED SOME COMPANY, AT THE END; AND WE SUPPOSED, TO HAVE THE ITEMS GO TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE THE STORY THAT WENT ALONG WITH THEM. THE COTTAGE PROPERTY CHANGED HANDS AT THE END OF THAT SUMMER SEASON, AND SUZANNE NEVER MET UP WITH THE FORMER OWNER AGAIN. WE GET USED TO "ENDINGS," BUT ALMOST ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THIS, DIDN'T END WITH OUR REJOICING. WE MADE SOME GOOD BUYS AND SOLD NINETY PERCENT BY CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR. WHEN I REITERATE WHAT DICKENS'S CHARACTER, OLD FEZZIWIG SAID, IN "A CHRISTMAS CAROL," ABOUT THERE BEING MORE TO LIFE THAN MONEY, SUZANNE AND I KNOW THAT IT PERTAINS TO WHAT WE DO AS WELL.
IT'S WHY WE VOLUNTARILY RETIRE OUR DEFENSES, AND GET EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH EVERY ESTATE-TYPE ACQUISITION; AND DRINK IT ALL IN, SO TO SPEAK. WE ENJOY KNOWING MORE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. THERE IS A STRIKING IMPORTANCE, TO UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCE, AND BELIEVE ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PAPER HERITAGE SIDE OF THE COLLECTION, IT PAYS TO KNOW ALL YOU CAN ABOUT THE FAMILY CHRONICLE. SO MUCH CAN BE EXPLAINED, BY POURING OVER ALL DOCUMENTS, AND LISTENING TO RECOLLECTIONS OFFERED BY FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS, RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING-OFF CONTENTS. WE WANT THE WHOLE PICTURE IF WE CAN GET IT, BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH HISTORIC DETAILS, TO EXPLAIN WHY CERTAIN HEIRLOOM PIECES EXIST.....WHERE THEY CAME FROM; AS GIFTS AND INHERITANCE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. BEFORE WE FINISH WITH AN ESTATE, WE FEEL MUCH CLOSER TO THE FAMILY, AND CAN TALK LIBERALLY WITH RELATIVES, EVEN ABOUT SPECIFIC PIECES, THAT WE HAVE RESEARCHED BEYOND WHAT THEY KNEW. IT'S LIKE CONNECTING THE DOTS, BUT AS ANTIQUE DEALERS, WE ARE ONE OF THE DOTS IN THE SCENARIO. SO WE HAVE TO CONNECT AS SUBTLY BUT EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT ADDING TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE WHOLE ESTATE SETTLING BUSINESS.
SOME ESTATES HAVE CONTROVERSY ATTACHED AND A SADNESS THAT AFFECTS HOW WE HAVE TO WORK. I DON'T LIKE THIS SIDE OF THINGS. WORKING IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE CIRCUMSTANCE CRAMPS OUR STYLE FOR SURE. WE STAY AWAY FROM ONES WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SQUABBLING ABOUT PIECES AND PROFITS. WE PREFER THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO ARE WILLING TO PLACE THEIR TRUST IN US, AND APPRECIATE OUR SENSITIVITY ABOUT INSIDE FAMILY INFORMATION; AND AS DEALERS WHO KNOW HOW TO TREAT DELICATE DOCUMENTATION, LETTERS, BUSINESS AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS, AND EVEN CORRESPONDENCE WE FIND CONTAINING INFORMATION KIN MAY NOT BE AWARE OF....BUT NEED TO KNOW. WE TELL THEM WHAT SHOULD BE DESTROYED OR KEPT FOR FUTURE POSTERITY OF THE FAMILY CHRONICLE. WE HAVE FOUND HIGHLY SENSITIVE LOVE LETTERS, FROM THE WAR YEARS, TUCKED INTO SECRET DRAWERS OF OFFICE DESKS AND DRESSERS, THAT WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OVER TO FAMILY.....ONLY TO SEE SHOCK ON THEIR FACES, WHEN TAKING A SUMMARY READ THROUGH A SMALL STACK OF HANDWRITTEN LETTERS. BOY OH BOY, DO WE FEEL AWKWARD IN THESE SITUATIONS, AND THERE ISN'T ANY PLACE TO ESCAPE THE VERBALIZATION OF THEIR CHAGRIN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT DOES OCCUR. THERE ARE MANY OTHER OCCASIONS, THAT DESPITE DEATH IN THE FAMILY, THE RELATIVES ARE EASY TO WORK WITH, AND THE MOOD IS QUITE PLEASING....ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF ELDERLY PARENTS WHO HAVE DEPARTED THE LIVING......EVERY ONE EXPECTING, AND WISHING FOR, THE GRIM REAPER TO END THE SUFFERING. IT'S WHEN EVERYONE AGREES IT "WAS TIME."
WE LIKE THESE ESTATE SETTLING OPPORTUNITIES, YET WE STILL FIND OURSELVES, BY THE END OF THE EXERCISE, BEING VERY CLOSE TO THE FAMILY CIRCLE....AND FOR US, IT'S HOW WE WANT TO WORK. THAT'S WHAT OUR LOT IN LIFE HAS GIVEN US; ANTIQUE DEALERS AND PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS SHOWING UP FOR WORK AT THE SAME TIME....EATING OUT OF THE SAME LUNCH BOX. SO WE AREN'T JUST THERE TO PICK UP AND CART HOME. WE WANT AS MUCH OF THE PROVENANCE OF HEIRLOOMS AS WE CAN POSSIBLY GET; BECAUSE THIS IS OUR VALUE ADDED.
AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, THERE ARE SITUATIONS WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IMBEDDED, THAT CERTAINLY MAKE YOU WONDER, WHETHER THE DECEASED HAVE REALLY LEFT THE PREMISES. I'VE KNOWN VETERAN ANTIQUE DEALERS, WHO HAVE TOLD ME THE SAME, ABOUT BEING IN AN OLD HOUSE, ON THEIR OWN, SORTING THROUGH ESTATE ITEMS, AND FEELING AS IF SOMEONE, WAS WATCHING THE WORK UNFOLDING. THEY'VE ALSO TOLD ABOUT FEELING THE SUDDEN CHILLS OF A ROOM, WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR PREAMBLE OF WEATHER CONDITION, OR SOMEONE TURNING DOWN THE THERMOSTAT. THE SENSATION OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER, OR PLACING A HAND ON THEIR BACK, OR TOUCHING THEIR HAND, WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF LOADING BOXES.....ALMOST AS IF, FROM THE OTHER SIDE, (AS A LITTLE SIDE-BAR TO THE STORY).....THAT "I'M WATCHING YOU."
SUZANNE AND I HAVE HAD A FEW OF THESE, EVEN AT AUCTION SALES TO CLEAN OUT ESTATES, WHERE WE CLEARLY FELT THE PRESENCE OF FORMER RESIDENTS WHO, AS THEY SAY, WERE AT THAT MOMENT, "PUSHING UP THE DAISIES." ALL THESE SAME DEALERS AGREED THAT IT WAS JUST PART OF THE TERRITORY, AND THERE WASN'T A SINGLE ONE WHO WANTED TO GO ON THE RECORD, ADMITTING THEIR NEW-FOUND BELIEF (BY EXPERIENCE) IN GHOSTS. THERE'S A LITTLE STIGMA ATTACHED, EVEN NOW, TO ADMITTING YOU TALK TO DEAD PEOPLE. HONESTLY, WE FIND THE DECEASED RATHER USEFUL IN THE PURSUIT OF INFORMATION WE NEED; AND IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE'RE TALKING TO INVISIBLE ENTITIES. WE'RE RESULTS ORIENTED, SO THE ONLY REALITY WE NEED, IS THAT WE GET THOSE SUBTLE LITTLE MESSAGES, THAT CAUSE US TO LOOK IN SOME LOCALE WE HADN'T BEFORE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY COINCIDENCE HAVE OCCURRED, THAT HAVE LED TO US FULFILLING RESEARCH, BUT MOST WOULDN'T BELIEVE US, IF WE SAID, IT COMES FROM "THE GRAVE." DON'T BLAME THEM. BUT I JUST GO WITH WHAT WORKS. IF THEY STOP HELPING US...WELL BY GOLLY, MAYBE I'LL CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT GHOSTS.
SUZANNE AND I VALIDATE THE EXISTENCE, IN SPIRIT FORM, OF THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED OVER. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION OR OUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND, OR ANYTHING REALLY TO DO WITH MEDIUMSHIP OR PLAYING AROUND WITH OUIJI BOARDS. (THAT'S A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY). WE HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THE WORK OF JOHN EDWARD, AND HIS FORMER SHOW "CROSSING OVER," BUT NOT OUT OF BLIND FAITH. I HAVE BEEN VALIDATING THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED, MOST OF MY LIFE. I TALK TO THEM VIA THOUGHT, AND WHEN I'M IN A PANIC, AND I CAN'T FIND SOME RESEARCH MATERIAL I NEED, YES INDEED, I WILL ASK MY FORMER BOOK COLLECTING COLLEAGUE, DAVE BROWN, IF HE CAN HELP ME FIND A DOCUMENT I REQUIRE. DAVE DOESN'T WORK INSTANTLY, BECAUSE THE AFTERLIFE ISN'T SET UP THAT WAY....BUT SON OF A GUN, WITHIN A FEW DAYS, SOME STRANGE EVENT, AND COINCIDENCE, WILL LEAD ME TO WHAT I NEED.....INCLUDING A COLLAPSE OF BOOKS, THAT FORCE ME TO RE-STACK THEM....WHEN LOW AND BEHOLD, MY BOOK SHOWS UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COLLAPSE. I THANK DAVE REGARDLESS, IF HE LED ME TO THE BOOK OR NOT. I'M NOT GOING TO FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN. IT'S THE SAME WITH A LOT OF MY OLD CRONIES I USED TO CHUM WITH, AND ALTHOUGH IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, I STILL VALIDATE THEM; AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA, THEY CAN COMMUNICATE FROM THEIR NEW STATION IN THE CYCLE OF LIFE.
REMINDS ME OF A LINE OUT OF THE MOVIE "ANNIE HALL," WHEN WOODY ALLEN REFERS TO SOMEONE HE KNOWS, WHO TOLD HIM THAT HER SON THOUGHT HE WAS A CHICKEN. THE OBVIOUS RETORT, WAS "WHY DOESN'T SHE GET HIM SOME HELP." SHORT ANSWER...."SHE WOULD, BUT SHE NEEDS THE EGGS." OUR RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED OVER, IS JUST SOMETHING WE'VE VALIDATED, BECAUSE OF OUR OWN EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, WHERE MANY OLD PIECES CARRY THAT LITTLE BIT EXTRA I'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT.......LIKE CRADLES THAT ROCK THEMSELVES, DOLLS THAT RE-POSITION IN THEIR CRADLES, TOYS THAT ANIMATE ON THEIR OWN, DOORS THAT RECEIVE THREE TELL-TALE KNOCKS FROM NO ONE IN PARTICULAR. WE AREN'T FRIGHTENED BY THESE STRANGE, INTERESTING INTERVENTIONS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO THREATENING ACTION ATTACHED.....AS HOLLYWOOD LOVES TO PORTRAY FOR AUDIENCE APPEAL. OUR GHOST STORIES ARE RATHER DULL IN FACT, BUT OUR ONGOING CHATS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED OVER, ARE ANYTHING BUT BORING. WHEN WE GET THE MESSAGE, AT ONE OF THESE ESTATE SALES, SUGGESTING WE LOOK SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE, FOR SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF WORKING IN THIS PROFESSION...WELL SIR, WE JUST GO AND LOOK. SOMETIMES WE FIND PIECES, AND SOMETIMES WE THINK THEY'VE JUST HAD SOME FUN WITH US.....BUT WE ALWAYS THANK THEM FOR THEIR TWO CENTS' WORTH.
AS I WROTE YESTERDAY, PART OF OUR FASCINATION WITH THE ANTIQUE TRADE, IS THE ATMOSPHERE OF THESE PRECIOUS SPIRIT ATTACHMENTS. CONSIDER THE STORY OF THE PINE CRADLE THAT ROCKED ITSELF, FOR A SUCCESSION OF OWNERS. NOW WEIGH IT AGAINST THE TRAGIC STORY THAT A LITTLE GIRL HAD PERISHED IN A HOUSE FIRE, TRYING TO RESCUE A DOLL FROM THE SAME CRADLE. THE STORY, WHICH HAS BEEN TOLD AND RETOLD A THOUSAND TIMES, SUGGESTS THE GIRL HAD BEEN INITIALLY RESCUED BY HER FATHER, BUT HAD GONE BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO RETRIEVE HER TREASURED DOLL. SHE DIED OF SMOKE INHALATION, FALLING DOWN AT THE SIDE OF THE CRADLE, THE DOLL IN HER ARMS. THE CRADLE SURVIVED THE FIRE, BUT HAD A MYSTERIOUS ROCK TO IT, AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY, EVER AFTER. FOLKLORE? MAYBE. BUT IT IS PART OF OUR BUSINESS CULTURE, NONE THE LESS....TO CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES PROVENANCE PROVIDES INANIMATE OBJECTS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS LONG ENOUGH TO BE DESENSITIZED TO MOST OF IT, THE EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH ESTATE, ON ITS OWN MERIT, REQUIRES US TO BE READY FOR THE ONSET OF "VIBES." SOME ARE A LITTLE UNSETTLING. OTHERS, QUITE COMFORTING.
WHAT ABOUT OUIJI BOARDS TO CONTACT THE OTHER SIDE? DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE? YOU'D BE SHOCKED TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT OUIJI BOARDS, AND THE OLDER THE BETTER. IT TAKES US ABOUT TWO DAYS TO SELL A FOUND OUIJI BOARD, AND SINCE WE'VE OPENED, WE'VE SOLD AT LEAST TWENTY, WITH REQUESTS FOR MORE. FUN? OR TOYING WITH THE SPIRIT-KIND? WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE LOOK-SEE TOMORROW.
THANKS FOR VISITING WITH ME TODAY. MUCH MORE TO COME ON OUR LITTLE ANTIQUE JOURNEY FOR 2014.
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