COnfessions of a MAD Antique Dealer

The man on the left side....just look at his face...it really Looks like my Father at a very you age, the cleft in the chin, the eyes, the high cheek bones.....if you want to use your imagineation, it almsot looks like me in college or high school.... But from what I know about my father, he was never in any theather groups, or got dressed  up...but then again, he really never discussed much with me about anything...sadly.  He never told me about his school life,his freinds, or what he did immediately after he finsihed high school, and I am not really sure if he did. I do know that his father died in 1916 during the FLUE EPIDEMIC..and he and one or two brothers had to go to a JEWISH ORPHANAGE in Pleasantville NY.....at least he wasnt on the curel streets of the lower EAST side, he was fed, got medical attention, had a safe roof over his head....and met freinds there that stayed friends all through their lives, and two, were pall bearers at his funeral. That is testimony of what friends are all about...and testimony what a special and good person he was. I unashamedly sit here typing this, with tears cascading down my cheeks, feeling the loss, that  children get when their loose a parent....Of course adults cannot function if they stay in a place of mental loss..so we survive by blocking sadness and bad things...but occassionaly the blocks....the walls that we build  are penetrated by bullets, shells and rockets of memories and sadness, and these walls collaspe temporarily, until the little elves in our brain and buildthem up again...and these little elves work very quickly...

I sit here not only thinking of my loss, but of how lucky I was to have a parent like him. I guess he taught me by example, not by explanation. He was always reading, newspapers, magazines and books. Even though we never discussed what he read, I saw that reading was a big part of his life.....He always wanted me to do well in school, but never was one of the screeching parents who punished if you didn't do well on a test, or failed a subject...although, I don't remember ever failing anything...I learned the importance of friendship and loyalty...again by example. How he and his friends cherished each others friendship which spanned their entire lives. He was kind, honest, not visibly religious, but did go to Temple on the HIGH HOLIDAYS......which I learned was respect for his past,his parents, and his religion. He,unlike me, never talked about religion. He didnt try to convince me to go to temple or be religious, but just to do the right thing.He was a good father....and I only wish that I was more sensitive than I was...I never ever thought to sit down with him and ask him about himself...and his past. Now I look back and wondered how stupid I could have been.  It wasnt that I ddint care...I just didnt think of it.  Just like I didnt think of learning the HUNGARIAN my Mother and Grandmother spoke in the house. I picked up a handful of words....but my NOW inquisitive mind wasnt developed back then, for if it were, I would be fluent in that langauage.. I just didnt think of it. Years later, as I walked down the streets of BUDAPEST,  I broke out into tears, thinking that I shoudl be understanding the sounds that I am hearing, for I did grow up with it constantly ringing in my ears...but, Mom and Grandma, didnt want my sister and me to understand...they used it to talk behind out backs.....sometimes as if was their secret weapon.  Well now I think I know little better than 100 words....but that isnt enought to do  more than go shopping, read a menu and curse out a few people...and know names of body parts.

Well the little elves have fixed the hole in the wall in the brain that lets the tears flow....as I aid they do work quickly.....other wise, they would have to run and get some valium or other cement to fix the blocks.. Well back to the photo.....what is strange about it, that although I think it looks like him.......there is some writing on the back of it...that I cannot read. It almost looks like it is written in YIDDISH...using HEBREW ALPHABET...but I cannot make out anything at all.  I sold the photo today....and while wrapping it up, I noticed the familiar face...this photo was purchased with a whole bunch of items, and I cannot even remember where....Had I noticed this before I sold it, I would have kept it.......I did ask the people, if somehow it really turns out to be my father, to sell it back to me..and they agreed.

The ASSHOLE in chief is going to talk to the country today about the condition...of the economy..The very sale economy that he says was in good condition.......Lets see what he says....and I will anal-yze it tonight.

Everyone who gets the 600 dollar rebate...spends it in Antique stores, restaurant, Yard sales, auctions...the money will stay in America. But if you spend it in retail stores....like WALMART, HOme DEPOT etc.....all the crap is made in CHINA, and the money will go right out of America into the hands of the CHINESE...Spend the money on GASOLINE it goes to the ARABS, put a down payment on a Toyota....and the money goes to the JAPANESE>....so...my message, keep the money in AMERICA....be Patriotic...and spend your rebate at GRANNYS ATTIC

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