Pierogis for a doctor's visit is a good trade
People don’t seem to trade much anymore.
Making trades is part of our history, especially when no one had cash. My mother was very good at it. I don’t think she ever paid for a doctor’s visit because she would always bring him canned beets or some pierogis. Of course, she would never suggest it was her payment; that would be rude. It was always a gift. The doctor, of course, would smile and the bill would magically disappear.
My trading days were mostly when I was a kid. We collected bubble gum cards and often traded among friends. Sometimes, the negotiations got a little heated and the deal was called off because one of us had doubles and it wasn’t fair.
I think that’s one of the big reasons trading doesn’t seem as popular as it once was; people are afraid of getting ripped off. But I like to trade. And one of my favorites as an adult involved a trade with a friend years ago.
We had just had central air installed in our house and I had a window unit that we didn’t need anymore. Since my friend had no air, she was really interested. But I didn’t want cash since we were friends. So she offered a trade: Her two big speakers for my window air conditioner. What a deal!
The beauty of that trade was I got something I wanted for an item I didn’t need. And since she had newer, smaller speakers, she was willing to give up her big, old-fashioned ones. We both got something we wanted and didn’t spend a dime.
I still have those huge speakers. Yes, the woofers and the tweeters might have some dry rot that waffles the sound a bit, but I bet they kinda work. I think.
Last week we went to a record store. But before we went, I decided to take inventory of my old albums. And, sure enough, I discovered several duplicates among a stack of those I never listen to anymore. I mean, how much more do I really want to listen to Journey or Foreigner?
Of course, how I ended up with duplicate albums is a mystery. But I’ve owned these albums 50 years or longer and they’ve been through many college dorm parties, so anything could have happened.
Anyway, I took a small stack with me thinking I’d get $10 or $12. And I was shocked when the shop owner offered me $40. At first I thought it was a great deal. But then I started to wonder maybe they were worth more than what I expected and he knows he’s got a gold mine and perhaps I should have demanded a hundred bucks.
But I didn’t. I figured I got more than what I expected and most were duplicates anyway, so I made the deal and put the money toward some new LPs. It was just like the old days. And I thought how cool it would be if trading became more prevalent today.
In fact, I wonder if my doctor would be interested in a pair of classic, gently used speakers.
Ray Kisonas is regional editor of The Monroe News and The Daily Telegram. He can be reached at rayk@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ray Kisonas: Pierogis for a doctor's visit is a good trade
