What was that? A falling star? No – just ‘folks’ up and at it before dawn with flashlights and head lamps looking under tarps and checking out the lay of the land. Sunday is the big buyer day – and they arrive early!  We roll out of camp, get the coffee started and start taking the tarps off so we’re ready to SELL!

Most people walk around but some do the drive-by gawking in trucks, golf carts, scooters, bicycles and ATV’s; pulling/pushing kids/dogs in a buggy or wagon. One man even sells “flea market wagons” with sideboards, umbrella, money and cup holders for $125.

This is the day for people watching. This place puts that ‘seen at Wal-Mart’ web site to shame. Just add ‘obese’ as an adjective for most of my descriptions – it’s a good motivator to put down that donut!. Mostly there’s too little clothing to cover up body parts. And when did spaghetti straps become a fashionable decision for Sr. Citizens? Some of the standouts:

• couple on cycle, her in a purple sundress (I only saw them from the back, others said the front view was worse)
• guy with l-o-n-g hair matted and woven into his beard
• woman with jungle print, see-thru, short-short one piece outfit
• family with children carrying live chickens, dad had the big soup pot and mom had the propane cooker – what’s for dinner tonight?
• man with very hairy arms and solid tattoos all over them
• young woman with tube top, Daisy-Duke shorts and cowboy boots WITH spurs
• a couple that takes dolls and remakes them into horror flick characters (complete with giant spiders and cages) alongside their sparkly hair ribbons
• and there’s no helicopter parenting here – punishment is swift and solid with a loud “I TOLD YOU NO!”
• man in the golf cart with a Great Dane seat-belted next to him that was bigger than the cart!

Some will stop, ask the price and say, I’ll think on it. Some will haggle over the price, some will have their money out as soon as they walk up. Most will stop and chat or tell you the story about when they owned that certain item. You’re probably gonna run into someone you know or their relative so don’t say anything bad about anyone.

For $3 you’ll never get a better example of Midwest Americana – join us sometime.

You’ve heard of BFE? Well, this place is even further out than that. Head due west on US40 and hang a left just past the Putnam/Clay county line. A couple more turns and you get to the gravel road that takes you back to Croy Creek Trading Post. The gate opens 8:00 a.m. on 1st. & 3rd. Saturdays but they start lining up at dawn. A lady in a sunbonnet will take your $3 (whether you’re selling or buying) and tell you to have a nice day. If you’re there to buy, park in a field next to the road; if you’re selling – head on up the hill and find a choice spot. I was lucky to have relatives already there and they saved me a parking spot.

This is NOT your father’s flea market – there is everything and anything for sale here and “Let’s make a deal” is the most popular phrase.  There are new things, old things, live things, dead things and things in between. There’s small animals: chickens & roosters (you don’t want to camp next to those people), rabbits, ducks and puppies. There’s furniture: old, new, broken – use it for firewood. There’s tools of all kinds: mechanical, garden, construction, beauty shop, shiny & new, old & rusty. Need a 4-way (and not in a sexual way)? Buy it here.  How about a gun? There’s several vendors selling and lots of folks walking around with them. See someone with an interesting item? Ask them where they got it or maybe just buy it from them. Deals are made up and down the road.  Around dusk the vendors start covering their goods and settling down for the night.  Small fires were allowed; no electricity, no water – if you need it, bring it with you. Looking out over the field just as the sun was setting I thought: this must be what a pioneer settlement looked like when they headed West. Little wisps of smoke from the fires, the air turning cool, crickets chirping, the porta potty door slaming . . . .  G’night!

What’s my favorite 4-letter word? FREE of course!!  I always look for something fun to do that’s free and there’s plenty of it around the Circle City. I’ll keep you posted on what’s coming up – who knows, we may run into each other at an event! 

• Aug. 19: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Art at Garfield Park Arts Center
• Aug. 19 & 26: Light & Shadows at Art in the Park, 100 Acres at IMA
• Aug. 17-26: Indy Fringe Festival, Mass Ave, various events, some cost $
• Sundays: free concerts at 2:00 at Central Library
• Aug. 23: 25th. Annv of Pan Am Games on Georgia St. 11-1
• Aug. 23: Pops Concert at McAllister Center in Garfield Park 7:00
• Aug 25: Hummingbird Banding at IMA 9-12
• Aug. 26: American Legion National Convention Parade, downtown route
• Aug. 29th. US National Fan Fest, Monument Circle 8-4
• Aug. 30: Indy Jazz Orchestra: Garfield Park 7:00
• Aug. 31- Sept 3: Rib Fest, Military Park, various artists, headliners: Eddie Money & Cheap Trick
• Aug. 31: Sound of Music at IMA, dusk (does cost $10)
• Sept. 1 Labor Day Parade, downtown route 11:00
• Sept. 1: America We Remember, concert & fireworks at Garfield Park 6:30, music by 7 Bridges – Eagles Tribute band

Hope you can enjoy some of my suggestions.

From my driver’s seat today every vehicle I was behind had a tail light or brake light out. And I usually see at least one expired license plate.  Just plain annoying.