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Boom, Pop, Rat-A-Tat-Tat; Boom, Pop, Rat-A-Tat-Tat

3/19/2015

2 Comments

 
Years ago I purchased a beat up old drum kit. I can play two different basic beats. My wife laughs hysterically when she sees me banging on those drums. Neil Peart, I am not. But I really enjoy rhythm and I seek rhythm not only in music but in all aspects of life. I like each day to flow in a reliable pattern. Which means each day is consistent, sometimes even mechanical, and I can feel an imagined soothing drum beat in the background, motivating and driving me through the day.

I recently spent 14 months working a job where I desperately tried to find a rhythm. But I learned there cannot be rhythm when the person you are working for is absolutely toxic, a beast, really. So, I had to leave that job and find my peaceful rhythm elsewhere. For the past three months or so, I have been working full-time as a baseball card dealer. I was able to find a groove, a nice rhythm, but as much as I enjoy sports cards, it is not a sustainable way to make a living. I much prefer sports cards as a hobby instead of a profession.

I have a law degree and have been working professionally as a lawyer for most of the past nine years. With the exception of my last job, I have enjoyed the practice of law. I have earned some good money but more importantly I know I have done some excellent work and helped a great many people along the way.

My brief experience as a full-time sports card dealer ended this week. I started lawyering again and am beginning to hear that rhythm I so desire. Now I need to somehow meld the new job with my baseball card addiction and find a parallel rhythm that works.

I could not find a rhythm at all this week as I began training at the new job and tried to prepare for the Sun-Times show. It has been a very hectic week. I worked all day Thursday then spent all night in Rosemont setting up for the show. After a few hours of sleep, I was up at the crack of dawn for work Friday, which proved to be a crazy-busy day. After work, I raced to the Stephens Center, arriving at 4:45 p.m. for a show that began at 4 p.m. I definitely lost some sales from my late arrival. I was also tired, hungry and in definite need of caffeine.

For my first few hours at the show on Friday, March 20, 2015, I was pretty busy. I had customers. Guys were coming up to sell me stuff. I saw lots of friends, many who I haven't seen for a while. I shook a lot of hands. I did not get a chance to record any of my sales. I'm not exactly sure what I sold. Whatever it was, the money immediately went to purchase cards. I picked up Billy Williams and Ron Santo rookies. I also picked up a nice pile that included some old Parkhurst hockey which I absolutely love. I picked up a really solid 1958 Topps Ernie Banks All Star. I also purchased some rough '62s that included a Stan Musial and a Sandy Koufax. All in all, a really nice haul. I had to turn down a large collection because I did not have the funds. Though, I am absolutely satisfied with today's haul.

The night was really a blur. I didn't get home until 9:45 p.m. What a long day!

But all is right in the world again. I get to work law all during the week then sports cards all weekend, which is the way I prefer life to go. I will try and take some photos of the show tomorrow, take some notes, and provide a better report. With so many of my regular readers attending this show, I would also like to hear your experiences at the Sun-Time show. Send me your thoughts, anecdotes from the show and even some photos -- I'll post them here! 
2 Comments
Mark Swokowski
3/21/2015 03:38:23 am

congrats on the job...hope you don't cut out the Gonzaga show with your busy schedule. I hear you about your past boss. I've worked at my job for 40 years and have had horrible bosses for about a third of my years there including the present. I've observed that the competent ones never give you trouble but the others always want to blame someone else for their shortcomings which can make working for them miserable. You always get a chance to eventually screw them over which is half the fun. Take care and look forward to the next show.

Reply
Tony
3/23/2015 02:51:50 am

Thanks Mark! No way I'm cutting out Gonzaga. I may have to cut out some Saturday shows here and there. I think you hit the nail on the head regarding horrible bosses. I'm sure that after I left my old job, the kind lady in charge blamed everything she screwed up on me. No matter what she does, she's living in her own personal hell. I'm thankful, I'm far away now. Hopefully, I'll see you April 4th!

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    Tony Gordon

    Vintage Sports Cards Addict

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