Baltimore, 2007

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March has traditionally been one of my favorite months - not just because the snowdrops are pushing up through sodden layers of decaying leaves with the promise of spring not far behind, but also because March means SHOW time!Not just any show, mind you, but "the largest one-day show in the world", the yearly meeting of the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club.

But as I turned the pages on the calendar from January to February this year, my feelings were bittersweet at best. I was in the middle of a major move from Philly to Atlanta and had been forced to address a number of work- and Realtor-related issues that were pressing, to say the least. Even if Baltimore is only 90 min south of Philly, I wasn't sure if I would be able to spare the time.

Plus there was the fact that I wouldn't be able to sneak in on set-up day as I had two years ago. Saturday is the day that all the rare and interesting shots are snapped up, leaving slim pickings for regular attendees on Show Sunday

But there also the painful knowledge that this would be my last show as a local. Since Atlanta is a good 10 hours south, this could be my last as an attendee for several years. Sadly, I tucked the yellow flyer that had dropped through the mail slot into the back of my appointment book and refocused my attention on the many tasks at hand.

But, as luck would have it, I experienced divine intervention in the form of Show Chairman Bob Ford ("baltimorebuyer" on eBay), who descended from the heavens a few days short of the show and sent me a short but glorious e-mail that "there will be a badge waiting for you on Saturday" -- or words to that effect.

Who knew that angels wore yellow caps with a BABC logo????!!

	*Archangel Bob Ford (left), and Co-Angel (possibly fallen) Steve Charing (right).*
*photo © http://www.baltimorebottleclub.org; gleefully stolen from their website.*

I praised the saints and plugged the camera battery pack into the wall outlet. Saturday promised to be a prime shot-hunting event, PLUS there would be plenty time to chat with old friends and to photo-document for a report here at www.pre-pro.com.

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