R-o-s-e-b-u-d

I am a sucker for garage sales. Even though it was raining cats and
dogs yesterday, I still managed to pass several sales, as I was out

and about running a few errands. I've always maintained that one

man's trash is another man's treasure, and you never know just

what treasure you might happen upon at a friendly neighborhood
sale.

This beautiful baby was my treasured find yesterday. It was

standing, dusty and cobweb ridden in the corner of a chatty lady's

garage, whispering, "R-o-s-e-b-u-d". (I know it's a Flexible Flyer,

but I'll get to that in a minute.) She had it marked with a $10 sticker.

I asked if she would take $5. "How about $6?", she countered. "Deal."

Dickering is such a thrilling part of the whole garage sale experience.

This sweet sled brings back wonderful memories for me, not unlike

Charles Foster Kane's "Rosebud", the most famous single word in

movie history. (I know. I'm a hopeless romantic.) I can remember

sledding in glorious thick snow in tiny Burlington, Indiana on a

Flexible Flyer exactly like this one in the 1950's, with my dear

uncles. We would double up and take turns sliding down the

snow covered hill, over and over, until our fingers and toes were

numb with cold. Funny to think two of us could actually fit on this

little thing. Anyway, it symbolizes happy times for me. And it will

look so charming at the manor for the holidays, don't you think?

Bring on the snow!

.

PS...I just did some research online, and found that the earliest

Flexible Flyer sleds had the flower logo painted in the center. So,

hey, whad'ya know! "Rosebud" was a Flexible Flyer brand sled.