Treasures

I like to watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS. (What? I DO watch PBS sometimes. Right before CMT's My Big Redneck Wedding and re-runs of Elimi-date.)

Anyway, as I was saying, I like to watch Antiques Roadshow. It's always great when some expert tells Average Joe Guy that the rag his bird dog used to sleep on is really a rare Navajo blanket worth a fortune, or the jeweled stick pin he picked up for $.75 at a garage sale is worth 15K. Isn't that every packrat's fantasy? To be vindicated on TV? As in, "I TOLD Junior that I couldn't throw out that old painting Grandma Jones passed down to us. I knew it might be worth something someday." Even if it turned out that the picture wasn't worth anything--it was the frame that would bring the price of a small farm.

Oh, yeah. That would be sweet. Very.

I mean, it would be sweet if I were a packrat. If I were one. Which I'm not. Not any more, at least. (Shush up, Dixie.)

Anyway.

It does make you think, though, doesn't it? You watch the appraisers tell all this fascinating history about items, then see the owners gasp, and, sometimes, even cry when they realize what the things they own are really worth.

Doesn't it make you want to play along at home? Yes? It does? OK, let's do it. I'll start. Let's take a look around Roxie's house and see what we could auction off to put the kids through college. OK...here we go..let's look...maybe here...no, here...in here? Maybe...here? Yes! Pay dirt!

Great News! True, some experts think that the macaroni-art and plaster handprint market is a little soft right now, but I am confident that trend will reverse eventually, and when it does, I tell you, I am set.

More tomorrow.