The "One Polaroid Short Of Being Famous!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from North East, Maryland.  The trip from Lancaster, Pennsylvania is slightly over an hour, but an easy drive through the countryside and farmland of some of the most fertile soil in the United States.  Carol and I saw a large herd of Black Angus Steers as well as close to two dozen beautiful horses that were in various stages of being groomed and trained.  

Kathy's Corner in North East, Maryland

For years we have driven to the small town which is at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to eat, enjoy the many and varied shops and to drop off a few of my altered Polaroids that I have made for over 50 years and sell at Kathy's Corner Shop in North East.  That was until a few days ago when I got a note in the mail telling me that she has decided to downsize the store and sell only merchandise that sells quickly.  Her little shop is packed full of just about everything artistic from hand-made jewelry to ceramics to t-shirts.  

Kathy is ready to greet a customer.

Her shop used to be two different store fronts which she opened into one to double the size.  That was many years ago, and due to the recent COVID-19, she has had to partially close.  She found she could least one half of the double store to a person that will sell children's clothing.  Perfect way to begin to make a living once again.  In order to do so, she decided to cut her stock in half.  My photos were part of that half that didn't make the cut.  I have been lucky enough to sell my photos in her shop for over 10 years now, and recently have not sold any for close to half a year.  She can't survive selling my photos, so I will remove them to allow for items that sell the best at present.  When we arrived today we parked in front of the store.  The town was very quiet with shops and restaurants mostly closed.  

This is one of my altered Polaroid prints.  This particular
print is of the nearby Turkey Point Lighthouse.  I mat
and frame them for sale in gift shops.

I sent Kathy a note telling her I would arrive on Wednesday about noon and she told me to call the number on the door and Les, her long-time employee and renter of the second floor of her store where he lives, would open the door for me to get my photographs.  Within a minute or two Les was at the door and was helping me load the two dozen or so prints into my car.  He said when the economy returns to normal she might give me a call and take a few back once again.    

This is a rack in the part of the store
that she is leasing where I had my photos.

Everyone is struggling and I hope she will be able to return her business to a state where she can make a living off of it.  In the meantime, I will attempt to have my brother help me set up a site online and try and sell the prints in that manner.  I really don't sell them to survive but because I enjoy making them and find it amazing that I can sell them.  Carol and I will still make visits to North East to visit with Kathy at her corner store.  My wife loves the jewelry she sells and we have purchased many gifts during our visits to drop off photographs.  Actually, we have spent more money at the shop and in the town than the photographs have put in my pocket.  But, that's OK since my altered Polaroid photographs are a hobby and have given me a chance to share them with others.  

Another view of the front of her shop.

Will I search for another shop in which to sell my photo- graphs?  Probably not.  It's not worth the hassle for the amount of money you make and at times costs me money if the shop sells items that my wife and myself enjoy.  I only hope that Kathy will be able to return her business to normal so we will be able to visit with her in her store for years to come.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.