Goodbye Lakewood
Well I just don't know what my Dad is going to do. For years, when he comes to visit me and my family in Atlanta, he tries to plan his trips for the second weekend of the month. This is because the legenday Lakewood Antiques Market is held that time each month, and there's no better place for antique-lovers and bargain-shoppers to sift through the old and new merchandise in search of treasures. But this weekend marked the end of the tradition, as the antique market closed its doors forever.
Daddy won't be too happy when I tell him. After all, he's the one who got me hooked on antique shopping when I was merely a tot. Although I'm sure he'll still visit Atlanta often to see his youngest child (me) and his middle child (my brother), I can't help but think he'll be a little disappointed. After all, the 17-year tradition that hosted more than 1,000 vendors each month was one of his favorite jaunts while he was in town. Oh well. Sorry Dad.
So this past Saturday, two of my sisters-in-law and I got up early, stopped for coffee, and headed out to the market for one last time. There are two other antique markets that take place monthly in Atlanta, and I'm sure we'll frequent them. But Lakewood was special. The merchandise, the atmosphere--I've never experienced anything quite like it. And I must say I was not surprised that when I told my son (12) that I was going to Lakewood on Saturday, he popped out of bed and announced he was going with me and his two aunts. "Are you sure you want to go?" I asked him. "Mom, c'mon. It's the last one. I have to go!" Looks like the same bug that bit me when I was a kid has bitten him. Of course, I worked on that, just like my Dad did when I was a kid.
Bye bye Lakewood. I'll miss you.
