I Still Wanna Believe

There are so many dishonest people in the world today. So many people with harmful agendas. So many people out to make a buck. I think you’d be somewhat foolish if you weren’t always a little leery of people selling stuff. There are thieves who will take your money and disappear. But I also choose to believe that there are still good people out there too. People who are just trying to make a living. People who come by their money honestly. People who aren’t trying to trick you into buying something they have no intention of delivering.

This weekend I attended the twice annual flea market and craft fair at the Olde Courthouse Museum just a block away from my house. I usually go down and walk around when this event is going on, but I rarely buy anything. Most of the stuff is “junk,” in my opinion, or stuff that I have no interest in. Like crocheted baby blankets, quilted tote bags, bows for dogs, and the like. There are the usual food vendors and folks selling homemade jams and soaps.

Well, this year I found something I wanted to buy. Some scented wax cubes for my diffuser. I’d been wanting to get some spring scents (all the ones I currently have are woodsy and Christmasey) but did not want to take a chance ordering on-line. Sometimes you just have to experience the product in person before deciding to buy. I was excited when I saw her sign, so I crossed the street to have a smell.

The lady was very nice but had no products to take home with me. Say what? She had some little sample jars of wax that you could open and take a sniff, but no product on hand. Hmmm. Seems weird that you have a booth to sell stuff but no stuff to sell. Anyway. We chatted for a bit. I unscrewed and sniffed pot after pot of wax. She said she was local and could order whatever I wanted and she’d get it in for me and make arrangements to get it to me.

Hmmmm. So, I give her money and I walk away with nothing. What to do. She had business cards and seemed nice enough. But . . . what do I know about this lady? Nothing. I’m still a bit baffled that you’d spend money on booth space to sell stuff but then have nothing to sell at that booth except a promise, but I guess that’s how you save on overhead and inventory.

Anyway, I took a chance. Selected some nice springy floral scents and paid the nice lady using my ATM card. I figured if she had a card swiping device, she must be legit right? It wasn’t like a cash only kind of a deal. She texted me a receipt, so I have her contact number and I took a business card to reach her if she fails to provide me with smelly goodness in a couple of weeks, as promised. I also snapped a quick photo of the mini pots that I told her I wanted her to order for me. (Mostly because by tomorrow I’ll have forgotten what I ordered.)

So, this past weekend I lived life on the edge a little bit and purchased me a promise from a total stranger at the flea market. Why? Because I choose to believe that there are still good people out there in the world. I guess I’ll find out in a couple of weeks.

What say you? Is she legit? Will I ever get my product? Do you believe most people are still honest? Would you have taken the same chance I did and purchased something on a promise to provide a product down the road?

I’ve got some exciting things planned for the year that only my newsletter followers will know about. I promise you’ll only get 6 newsletters for the entire year, so I won’t clutter up your inbox. Here’s the link if you want to sign up and be the first to know things: http://bit.ly/JansenSchmidtNewsletter

Word of the Day: Jaialai

Fun fact about me: I like to surround myself with pleasant things when I’m writing. Like pleasant aromas.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, May 2022. Images by Google and giphy.com