As April approaches, with the winds and the pollen and the blooms comes one of my favorite traditions.....The Metrolina Expo. Each April and November my sister or sisters, depending on who of us three is available and has a little mad money to spend, make the trek to Exit 16, Sunset Avenue, just north of Charlotte. With my passions for furniture and furnishings and my love for the quirky, the slightly off magnetic north, Metrolina is the perfect place for me. Several of my most beloved pieces of furniture were sought out and found at Metrolina. The vast expanse of treasures and the lure of the hunt draw me there twice a year, every year. The vendor stories draw me in...are they true...does it matter? Why buy a new armoire when you can find an armoire that once held Marie Antoinette's nightie and arrived in Statesville via a fifth cousin's second wife's estranged daughter, twice removed. The joy is in the history, don't you think?
Some of my past found treasures include antique silver napkin rings with names or initials of personal significance engraved. Who might have thought that I would find a truly old ring engraved with "Doc," an apt tribute to my father, the ultimate general practitioner of medicine or one scripted with "Joe," my husband's late father and currently my 150 lb Newfoundland. And how many hours did we spend searching for these items that we didn't even know we wanted or needed? No matter, the thrill truly is in the hunt.
I love my French armoire, my linen press, the several chests of drawers, my Oriental coffee table, the botanical prints, jewelry and charms, and the list goes on of my favorite Metrolina treasures. But, what I love most, no doubt, is the time I have spent there with my precious sisters, sharing an apple dumpling and/or (usually 'and') Eastern NC barbeque. The mini doughnuts and funnel cake are perfect side items to the great conversations, the catching up with the two women I admire most. I feel the anticipation as I pull through the gates....not excitement for furniture finds, but an opportunity to share a hug, a laugh, a secret, maybe a tear with sisters.
The Expo is really just an excuse. Check it out with someone you cherish!
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