by Laurel Willow

Created on: September 25, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Whenever I meet someone new, I ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It is a fun way to start a conversation and an interesting way to get to know someone. The best answer I ever got was, "I want to be a porn star." I almost stopped asking the question after that one but I enjoy people's reaction and it often prompts a revealing discussion.
I wanted to be an antique dealer. My house is full of all sorts of collections: red handled kitchen utensils, Pyrex bowls, Kewpie dolls, pencil sharpeners, binoculars, photos of people I don't know, Boyd's bears, old bottles, old cameras and more. Every spot on my walls has photos, paintings, old, odd metal signs, mirrors, cartoons, wedding certificates and shadow boxes with small collections. Having a shop to sell my "stuff" would be a dream come true!

One recent Sunday my husband, Jim, and I headed to an antique show on the eastern end of Long Island. There were garage sales, yard sales and tag sales galore on this beautiful late summer day. On our way, we passed one of my favorite collectible places and I suggested we stop. It had been quite a while since I had been there and I smiled as I remembered how great a set up this place had. As we turned around to head into The Cottages, a group of about 18 dealers in little buildings, large sheds and little houses all on one piece of property, I remarked that the prices east of where we were went up the closer we got to the famed Hamptons of Long Island. This would be a better place to shop!
As we wandered around the little stores, I realized how much I loved the atmosphere, the people, the stuff! I felt as though I had come home, somehow. Jim and I had separated at one point and I found him in a little red barn that was for rent. His face was glowing as he spread his arms in the barn that had a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams.
"This is perfect! This is you! The rent is perfect and you're getting it!"
"What?" I was incredulous. "Well, it is red." I began to embrace Jim's enthusiasm.
"You're right. It is perfect. Can we do it?"
"We are. I already talked to the guy and it's ours!"

We spoke to the owners and made plans to meet and put down the security. With that, I started filling the car. We planned a trip with Jim's van for that Saturday, and we had the name. I had been using "Auntieqtobee" on an internet auction site. "Auntie Q" was the logical next step. The barn was renamed and I was now a grown up!

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