It has often been said that collecting antiques and collectibles is a "GENTLE MADNESS."  I think the term is lovely and true.  I was raised, from the age of six, by my grandmother.  I called her "mama."  If there was a moving sale, estate sale, or an antique's shop within a 60 mile radius, we would go, rain or shine.  She would say to me: "Let's go Junking." Mama didn't have a fancy college degree, but she knew when something was worth something and when it wasn't.

I remember one day in particular.  We had driven about 20 miles to a large moving sale.  Mama spotted a rubber draining dish holder, the kind that holds plates, cups, saucers, etc... after being washed to let them dry.  The "drainer" was full of dishes.  Mama told the woman in charge of the sale that she didn't need any more dishes, but she could really use the rubber dish drainer.  The woman told Mama to "just take it and everything in it for $5.00."  Of course Mama bought it.  Every single plate, cup, and saucer were Bauer, and in every color!!!  There wasn't a flaw on a single piece!!  It's been over 20 years since she left this earth.  What Mama had must have "rubbed off on me."  To this day, I can't pass a yard sale or antique's shop without stopping and looking for that ever "elusive treasure."