Photography and text by: Corey Amaro of Nance Harper's Antiques
Marburger antiques dealers work hard for the money. Do not think that those beautiful antiques, in those lovely booths, just happen to be there because an antique dealer went on a vacation to Europe, or that they arrived on their doorstep by a fairy godmother, or by waving their golden hand over their booth….
Antique dealers have a crazy passionate drive and live, breath, eat and probably pee antiques.
Months before a show, antique dealers are searching high and low for antiques. Weeks later they are refinishing or restoring the antiques they bought, then packing antiques into their trucks, swearing at the vase that broke while packing the truck. Next they set out to drive across country, doubting the GPS, hoping that the hotel has secured parking and an internet connection. Then the next day they are unpacking their trucks at the fair in 110 degree heat, laying the floor to their stands, setting up the walls, hooking up the electricity, swearing at the cord they tripped over that made the lamp come tumbling down to the ground, wanting something to eat and finding their lunch floating in the ice chest. Antiques dealers spend hours twinking their stands, usually going back to the hotel very late at night only to sleep a few hours before the fair begins…
Antiques dealers have dogs. Bella is next to us in the tent. She has sweet eyes. I guess I better get over my fear fast if I want to play in this game.
(Wooden church statue pedestal, in the background a fragment of Aubusson tapestry, on the pedestal, an eighteen century statue head, Nance Harper's Antiques)
Back at the house (that we rented in Marburger) we realized there wasn't an internet connection… I began to think my record for blogging everyday for nearly five years would actually miss a day or two, the thought was not pleasing.
Luckily though at the fair I met Nance Harper an antique dealer from Atlanta who reads my blog. She asked me if I was going to blog while at Marburger. I told her my plight.
Now, here is the miracle thing about blogging, Nance said, "Oh Corey you can use my computer, I have a card that you can connect with anywhere… here take my computer, use it, write your blog, I would be honored!"
Antique dealers are nuts.
Bloggers are nuttier.
Both are loving ones at that.
(Fragments of nineteen century French wallpaper)
Back at the house, French Husband looked at the computer and asked, "Where did you find that?!"
"Nance Harper lent it to me."
"Who's Nance? She gave you, a stranger her computer… You got to be kidding?!"
"I'm not." I said as I typed this post.
"No really Corey, just like that, she let you take her computer."
"Yeah, I am lucky like that."
French Husband shook his head, "That is why I like being with you… good things come your way like the sun rising… steady and sure."
"Blogging and brocante… a girl's best friend," I said, "Honey, Nance and I know each other because we blog. We go way back. Friends do things like this."
French Husband raised his hands in the air and said, "Believing is seeing. I have seen it all. You get a computer from a stranger just becauseshe reads your blog."
The only thing I could say was, 'Yep."
Nance had this large painted, nineteen century, French canvas.
When the fair opened, a couple bought it first thing in the morning… Nance told me what they were going to use it for… you would never believe it. I wanted to run after the couple and take it back.
They are going to put it on an automatic roller, which will cover their TV when not in use.
A great idea, but how long do you think that nineteen century painting is going to last being rolled up and down everyday, twenty times a day?
Antique dealers love their babies.
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Later in the day Nance found out that the place she was renting had a plumbing problem, they asked their guest to leave. Nance had not place to stay during the fair.
Guess where Nance is staying tonight?
What goes around comes around. One act of kindness brings a tidal wave of goodness.
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