It is the beginning of Spring and I don’t know why my heart is heavy. Is something missing, what is it? We all know the old adage of time for “Spring Cleaning” but can this also apply to one’s self, one’s soul?
As the tears flowed today, I found myself seeking solace. I tried to remind myself of the phrase I see often now “Keep Calm and Carry On” but it helped very little. I was desperately in need of someplace to console me, amuse me, and soothe my soul. The local bakery and its cupcakes would not do, just thinking of going to mall was making me feel even worse, only one place could give me the solace I so badly needed today and it was an out-of-the-way little flea market/antique mall.
After making certain I could “sneak” away from my daily life for a couple hours, I was headed to my little haven a bit before noon. Just thinking about the possibility of finding something extraordinary or coming upon a special little treasure was so comforting. Why is it that searching through someone else’s stuff could provide solace? Could it be that the items were loved and treasured in their past lives? Were the previous owners good or bad people? How about their lives, were times tough for them or were they privileged? Perhaps, they too needed solace from whatever it was that haunted them? 
I am not sure of many things, but the one thing I know for certain is that one can indeed find comfort and amusement with previously loved items and re-purposed items. There is just something so comforting about a vintage English Porcelain Chintz Tea Cup or an Antique Quilt, even an old torn and broken Hand Made doll with an eye missing that speaks to my soul and…solace is found. Ahhhhhhhh.
