I have witnessed many random acts of kindness at the flea market. There is often a kind of cub scout camaraderie among vendors, helping someone struggling to put up a tent, keeping an eye out for each other during busy times and bathroom breaks. And then there are the little magic moments when someone goes out of their way to be kind to a stranger.
A new seller emailed me the other day and asked me to help her track down a customer she had sold a chandelier to a couple months ago. She had found a few of the missing crystal drops and wanted to give them to her. I posted a picture of the crystal on our social media but haven’t heard back yet. It struck me as very thoughtful and kind and made me think about other moments like this.
There was the time in summer when a customer started feeling dizzy and the seller gave her a seat in the shade and cold water and sent her husband to get help at the info booth. The seller stayed by her side till the paramedics came, holding her hand.
Another time I asked a mom if I could photograph her with the beautiful pottery she had bought. Her little girls each had a piece clutched in their hands, and the Mom said they were wide eyed with happiness because the nice lady selling had let them each pick one out as a present!
And then there is Glenn Hendricks. Always one of the first to arrive and the last to leave, so he has time to help everyone around him, especially the first-timers. When Lori’s mom, Pauline, was battling cancer last year, Glenn sat down with her at the market and shared his own story of fighting colon cancer, and listened to her tell hers as if he had all day. You could see her drawing strength from his attention and positivity. Pauline passed on in June, and Lori was overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy from our flea market family.
Pauline Wolf & Grandson Zander
The moment I always think of around the holidays is from years ago at Long Beach Antique Market. I was wandering the aisles with very little money to spend, and I saw a box of vintage Christmas balls. I was excited but also a bit sad. I had just lost my own collection of ornaments in a move, and while happy to have an excuse to buy some more, I missed the ones from past Christmases.
I went through the top layer of the box very carefully, remembering how fragile the thin glass could be, and I found the perfect globe, silver with a hand painted snowman and glittery snow. When I looked up I smiled to myself, because I saw the seller had white hair and a bit of a beard and even a twinkle in his eyes.
“How much are the ornaments?” I asked.
“$2 each today,” he said.
“I’ll take this one,” I said. My mood had lifted. As he carefully wrapped it up I said,
“I lost all my ornaments last year when I moved. So this is the first piece of my new collection!”
He looked at me and without missing a beat, said, “Well, I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you take the whole box. A little gift from me.”
“Really! Are you sure?” I felt like looking over my shoulder to see if there was a camera rolling. “That is so generous!”
The woman in the next space was smiling as she shrugged and said, “Every market he picks one person to give something nice to. I guess you’re the lucky one!”
Needless to say, he made my holiday, and I think of that happy moment every year when I open up the box. In typical magical fashion, I have never been able to find him again at the market to thank him. If you are reading this, you know who you are. Thanks from me and my boys, and may all of us have many magical moments in the new year!
