One of my favorite used bookstores is in Breckenridge, Colorado and is called Old Man Berkins. It’s kind of funny because the guy who owns it is probably in his early thirties, so he definitely isn’t old. The thing I loved the most about the place was this big box they had which was filled with all of the stuff they found inside the books they bought. Everything in the box was a dollar. I wanted to buy almost everything in it.
I think I spent hours digging through that box. I did my best to get as through as much of it as I could, but it took me a couple of visits before I felt I had looked at just about everything in it. There were many treasures to be had in that box. Once I saw this one, I knew I had to have it.
My original idea was to use the different pieces in my artwork, but that hasn’t happened. It’s been three years and it’s still intact. I’m not sure what I’m saving it for, but for some reason I can’t bring myself to take it apart.
Sadly, the last time I went back to Old Man Berkins, the box was gone. It had been replaced with a box filled with old Playboy magazines, which were not nearly as interesting, at least not in my opinion.
If I ever make my way back to Breckenridge, Old Man Berkins will be one of the first places I go to and I hope the box of treasures is back.