June in the Heartlands

I've been home now for just about 2 months. Memories of my recent Asian trip are being replaced by the desire to collect antiques and sell them at my shows.

As I drive around my town of Rockford, Illinois, I've noticed an unusually large number of "for rent" signs. The closing of all these factories that this midwest town once boasted have made jobs pretty scarce. The economics of situation already is causing people to flee the town to whatever place the can get employment.

It's a very sad, depressing scene but people are selling family treasures like there's no tomorrow. (And maybe there's not!) But for an antique dealer like myself, I'm seeing quality stuff for sale at fantastic prices. As a result, my business (at least on the buying end) is doing very well.

But the summer has just begun and the cost of living here continues to increase, so I'm not tooting my horn until the leaves start to fall in October.