kaleidoscope eyes...

In a land far from that traveled by the weekend warrior, there is a trail off the beaten path were I like to spend my 2 days of supposed leisure. The lure of the weekend treasure hunt, and of what value will the treasure bring,"usually not monetary?!". I spend most of my weekends searching for new places to search for new old things, flea markets, farmers markets, yard sales, antique shops, thrift shops, or abandoned buildings. Im awarded small pieces of peace and happiness on these journeys, be it just chit chatting with older americans about random junk they are selling, finding a trinket that means absolutely nothing to the rest of the world but its the coolest thing ever to you and the seller says "that will be 50cents", enjoying the fresh air, fresh foods, people watching, spending family time, seeing and being inspired by "junk". It's a jailbreak from the confines of the corporate jail cell we call modern day life, where we are ignorantly directed to live a cookie cutter life in a repeat fashion to generate revenue in controlled cycle. Walking aisles of tables and boxes filled with antiques, trash, clothing, collectibles, etc.. it all seems to become one big kaleidoscope of flea market mania, but my mind is processing it, filtering it, until a light comes on and says stop you have found something that you may like. Which then usually leads to a conversation of price, and if I'm lucky a little history lesson on the new purchase. I try to be a student of the world and most importantly the American folk that came before me, and the ideas and lives they lived. I've learned that most everything has already been done, and it makes no sense to me to try and reinvent the wheel, so I search endless in the daytime with a flashlight for pre-me american bits of inspiration, and ideology that I can condition in to my modern way of life and thinking. I feel a sense of freedom in these places, they're below the radar, or off the grid and its just old fashion human interaction, bartering, talking. America is usually alive and well in these places, There are always american flags flying and people walking around with flags on their shirts and hats, (might not be the most fashionable attire, but the pride is there.) I feel safe in these places being around genuine people who have the same passion for these things just looking to make a few bucks, and or survive the week, without the corporate hand pushing and pulling me to spend it in their domain. To end this post with a little humor and or momento: It is common practice for vendors to give little children at the flea market toys, dolls, books, etc. stuff for free while walking up to their table, these little toys light up my daughters eyes, and she'll carry her new friend around for the rest of the day telling me how much she likes her new dolly, or santa, or car, or book, or stuffed animal, or hat, or mickey, or...You get the idea, we have to start getting rid of her free collectibles given by people at the flea market, no money made just the joy of seeing a little one light up!