Searching for Treasure

Treasures

I had an hour to kill between meetings today so I decided to stop by our local flea market. It has been years since I have been to one!

This one is held every weekend and sells everything from tools to chickens. I was ambling down the rows of vendors, just fellow Americans selling their wares. I admit, I passed by most of the items without a glance.

I have no need for baby items, or hardware. Then I saw it! 

A book vendor! And it hit me, everything was important to someone. The items I thought were useless to me, at one time had some meaning and purpose in life to someone else. And they would again, brighten someone’s day. They just sat waiting for the right person to stroll by and take them home.

But Books are my life! I have always had a fondness for books. Being very ill when I was young, I spent many, many days lying around reading. I didn’t have the breath to do much more.

But through books I met my best friend, Trixie Belden. And every time I enter a bookstore I look for her. Of course I have the entire series and doubles and triples of some. But I still look. I would hate for Trixie to be left on a dusty shelf with strangers.

So I was rummaging through stacks of old children’s books. That’s what you gotta do, you can’t just LOOK. You have to dig to find treasure! So I moved books here and there, Lassie, the Hardy Boys, but no Trixie.

Although I was disappointed, I did come away with one treasure, The Rifleman. I didn’t even know they HAD books on the old western! I am off to cowboy world next week so I’ll take him with me.

I have always loved going to yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets. You never know what you will find, but you need to slow down and take a look. Maybe you’ll run across an old friend who has been waiting for you.

For me, books have been an escape. They still are. But now, instead of reading about adventures, I create my own. Life is what we make of it. And if you aren’t happy, pick up a good book and escape. 

Trixie Belden Lives!

Oval Edition Cover

Growing up I was bed bound much of the time with Asthma. Some days I barely had the energy to hold my book up to read. Not being able to run around outside with the other kids, I had my own friend. Trixie Belden.

Trixie, a girl sleuth, gave me the chance to escape and be brave and healthy. Written in 1948 by Julie Campbell, Trixie was brought to life along with her annoying brothers and devoted friends. Kathryn Kenny took over and the series ended in 1986.

Trixie Belden is a set of Mystery Books written for girls, many compare her to Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys series. There are 39 in all and I am tickled to have them all. I have even begun a quest to acquire first editions of each one.  Hey, it's my vice, some people smoke, drink, or whatever. I collect Trixie Belden books.

New Trixie Cover

I was thrilled when Random House began reprinting them in 2003. I was dismayed to see what they did to Trixie on the cover. They glamorized her. In the series, Trixie was a “sturdy girl” with freckles and short curly hair that frizzed when it was humid. She was not perfect. No one is. Except, perhaps Nancy Drew, but we’re not talking about her.

Nevertheless, the stories are the same. Trixie takes you to places around the country you could never dream of seeing. However, thanks to Trixie I have been there. As have millions of other young girls who love to read.

The modern Trixie is even available as an ebook. That’s fine for some but I’m gonna go read my faded dog eared copies on the self.

Original Trixie Cover

So if you know Trixie, leave a comment. Let’s make everyone say “Nancy who?”