Yesterday, I was at a thrift market in Prairie Grove, Arkansas and purchased several old photographs. The lady behind the counter made a comment on the photographs being so interesting and how it is a shame that someone would just throw them out or let them go. I agreed. Being a photographer, I have a love and respect for all things old or documentary. But here was my story that I relayed to her.
Back 6 or 7 year ago, my Father had a stroke and was paralyzed. He had all of the family movies and photographs. Long story short…his second wife abandoned him in a nursing home, faked power of attorney with her lunatic neighbor friend, stole everything he had, claimed he was abusive and then, after his passing, spent the next year trying to have a life insurance claim reversed in her favor. She lost that case. She left the state quickly after (the smartest thing she ever did) and was never seen again. She took everything. All our family memories, keepsakes and such were probably pawned or thrown away. Some people are just fucking evil. Pardon my French but this is a very personal subject for me. I despise borderlines, sociopaths, narcissists, histrionics, psychopaths, liars, thieves…whatever you want to call them. I don’t have any sympathy for these horrible people or those who enable them. And this happens so much in our country now, it is having a irreversible effect on our society as a whole.
So, the next time you see a photograph left in a thrift market…remember, someone probably wanted those keepsakes. Maybe.
