Antiques...My Past, Present and Future

Leo had a wonderful time at the antique show with Ernie.  Lousy show for us---but the weekend was well worth it because Leo had such a special time with his Dad.  Of course he avoided pictures as he always does....

but Ernie snuck one in..... 

This is my favorite picture though.  Now I know Leo looks a bit sour but the fact that he is willingly showing his face is incredible so we deal with it.  He's with Barbara Curtis.  I started working for Barbara Curtis at her antique shop when I was 14 years old.  I worked all through high school and even a time or two when I was home from college.  I think I met her when I was 12---when I started collecting---and some of my bedroom furniture came from her shop.  It's really only looking back that I realize how incredibly kind it was for her to ask my parents if I wanted to work for her.  I was thrilled and my parents were generous---I couldn't drive yet so my father would trundle me back and forth between Lisle and Hinsdale every Saturday.  What's really shocking is she doesn't look any different.  She's one of those people, like Jason Ringenberg, that doesn't seem to age.  I hadn't thought of it when Owen did the show with Ernie last fall, but this time I asked Ernie to get a picture of her and Leo.  It seems a nice way to connect a circle in my life---the past of me and Barbara, the present of Ernie and Leo and Barbara and the future that Leo represents.