My husband once teased me for buying a small enameled egg at a flea market, but he was in for a surprise. I have always loved visiting flea markets, drawn to the idea of sifting through other people’s discarded items to find hidden treasures. This passion started when I was eleven, spending summers with my grandmother in New England. We would explore every flea market and street fair we could find, searching for what she called “preloved jewels”.
Even as a mother and grandmother now, nothing excites me more than rummaging through various stalls, hoping to find something special among the ordinary. My husband, Sam, is a kind and hardworking man, but he doesn’t understand my obsession. He often refers to my finds as “hoarder junk”, which sometimes causes tension between us. Despite his criticisms, I have no intention of giving up my weekend adventures with a budget of $20, determined to uncover a hidden gem.
Recently, Sam surprised me by asking to join me on one of my trips. It all started a month ago when I visited a nearby town’s street fair. I felt a thrill of excitement as I approached a modest display of knickknacks. Among the items was a small porcelain and enamel egg, roughly the size of a real egg. It wasn’t particularly beautiful, but I was drawn to it.
When I asked the seller how much it cost, he said $25. I gasped dramatically and offered him $5. After some back-and-forth, I convinced him to sell it to me for $10, and I felt a sense of victory as I tucked it away. After browsing a bit more, I headed home with my treasure in hand.
When I got home, I greeted Sam, who was skeptical about my find. He turned the egg over in his hands and discovered it was labeled “Made in Hong Kong”. He laughed and said I had been tricked. I felt a wave of disappointment but insisted that I liked it and heard something shifting inside.
With a quick motion, Sam pried the egg open, revealing a tiny bundle of red silk. As I carefully unwrapped it, I discovered a stunning pair of earrings nestled within. Although I initially thought they were just good fakes, Sam was convinced they were real diamonds after testing them with his breath, which didn’t fog up the clear center stone.
Excited, Sam suggested we take the earrings to a jeweler for appraisal. Despite my concern about the cost, we went to the mall, and the jeweler confirmed that they were indeed diamonds set in 18-carat white gold, possibly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. My head spun when he said they could be valued at around three million dollars at auction.
Incredibly, the earrings sold for three million! We now have a lovely nest egg in the bank, and the porcelain egg proudly sits on the mantel of our new home. Sam, once a skeptic, has become an enthusiastic flea market companion, joining me in the hunt for more treasures. We may not have found that Van Gogh yet, but we remain hopeful!
This story teaches us that one person’s trash can truly become another’s treasure. It also reminds us to respect and support each other’s interests—Sam’s mockery of my hobby turned into appreciation when we discovered the earrings together.
91-year-old Joan Collins delights her fans with a stunning swimsuit snapshot
Joan Collins is undeniably a true icon, no matter how you measure size. As she celebrates her 90s, she realizes that her most glamorous and extravagant years are in the past. However, she continues to celebrate life and exude confidence in her own skin.
Many modern celebrities could take notes from Joan Collins on elegance, grace and self-expression. Her life story is simply remarkable and she remains an extraordinary woman. Born in Paddington, London, the actress is best known for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby in the hit soap opera Dynasty.
The show catapulted Joan to international fame, becoming the most-watched program in the United States in 1984. During that time, she earned $15,000 per episode and delighted some 21 million households each week as viewers tuned in to see her wild and cunning characters’ latest schemes.
“She was the first confident woman on television. I took a lot of heat for that. People said she was a ball-buster, so villainous, so ruthless! But I just stood up for myself as an independent woman!” Joan shared with CBS in 2019.
Notably, Collins is still active in the entertainment world, continuing her career nearly 70 years after her on-screen debut. According to Wikipedia, in 2022 she took part in two film projects, Tomorrow Morning and The Gentle Sex, while another film, In Bed with the Duchess, is currently in production.
She also has a strong presence on social media. Last month, as much of the United States faced a bitter cold snap and violent storms, Joan Collins brought her own warmth and flair to the scene.
Leave a Reply