There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in the vendor population at Trade Day. Most trade day vendors are in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. Many have had successful careers in business and, after retirement, apply these business skills at trade day markets. Our society tends to view older Americans like old tools-obsolete and irrelevant. This is unfortunate because the younger generation has little opportunity to learn from their elders-from their experience and from their mistakes.
But it is different at Trade Days. The accumulated knowledge and wisdom of a generation is still at work. Third Monday Trade Days has a number of vendors in their 80's and one in his 90's. The streets are named after vendors who have been on the same spaces for over 20 years. One of the great benefits of trade day markets for the average person is the opportunity to visit with these vendors each month. I asked one of these elderly vendors how long he planned to sell at Trade Day. He said that he had learned that there were only three things important in life---someone to love, something worthwhile to do, and something to look forward to. He said that since his wife died, he lives from one month to the next looking forward to coming out to Trade Day. And how long would he continue? "Just as long as I can."
We owe the older generation enormous gratitude for their frugality, for their sacrifice in war, and for their building for us the greatest country on earth. We should listen to them and learn "What's Important" in life.