Anybody want to buy something from an old lady?

“Anybody want to buy something from an old lady?” Those were the first words we heard from Shirlie back in 1999. Susan and I were dealers in an antique shop in San Jose where Shirlie had come in to see if she could dispose of some of the family items she had at home. Susan struck up a conversation and they hit it off, so we agreed to come over to Shirlie’s home on Hester Avenue and buy some antiques.

When we arrived, she had everything neatly laid out on tables. There were some wonderful items, mostly from her aunts Ella and Marie. Neither aunt had children, so Shirlie was the recipient of their treasures. Shirlie was shrewd, as those of us who know her understand, and she said she had more, but “as my father used to say, when the cows are hungry you don’t put out all the hay.” … Vintage Shirlie!

Her treasures sold well for us. We were happy and she was happy. Best of all worlds in the antique business. We continued to buy items from Shirlie, even two lovely vases that had belonged to her aunts that she saved from crashing off the shelf in the 1989 earthquake. As the supply dwindled, the relationship grew. I found that Shirlie and I had similar interests in sports and photography. I think it was the sports conversations – well maybe spirited disagreements, as she was a Giants fan and I am an A’s fan – that helped our friendship grow. I always loved her stories, relished her old photo albums and scrapbooks, and came to love her as a friend. Our weekly sit downs continued right up to the end. I enjoyed every one of them. Her timing was nearly perfect. She got to celebrate the Giants’ World Series Championship again. The Giants have lost a long time fan and we have lost a friend. Bless you good friend. You will be remembered.

Contributed by Bob Bortfeld