It seems like yesterday when I think about it, but it has now been 33 years since I played marbles on the schoolyard in the fifth grade at age 9.

My fascination with glass a-n-y-thing began 2 years ealier at the age of 7 with my mom and aunts while we were digging bottles and other great stuff (7 year old's mind...remember) in a VERY VERY old dump about a mile from our house in my original hometown in Massachusetts. We knew it was very old as just a very few rusted tin cans were visible on the surface with major Sumac growth. So, I learned about the joys of Poison Sumac trees while very young! And I learned how to avoid Poison Ivy even sooner.

We had many fine outings at this treasure trove in the ground, digging deeper all the time. Not the usual family outings some might remember, but I have many fine memories of finding what we called "the prize of the day" or "the one that wasn't broken." This, while working up a sweat, eating Wonder Bread sandwiches in wax paper, and iced tea kept almost cool in the shade of the Sumac grove.

This VERY old dump as it turns out, was from the 1930s-40s, at least at the level we reached. But to a 7-year-old, it was ancient. To seasoned bottle collectors, it was vintage, but not too old. To us, the carnival glass Golden Wedding bottles and the occasional quart Red Ruby beer bottle that would turn up in one piece was worth the hunt (and often in multiples; just like eBay!). Good times were truly had by all, and a bug had bitten me, now 36 years ago; The Collecting Bug!

I still have some of those marbles from the fifth grade, and memories often flood back to those days and how I wanted to always add more glass to my collection. It's about the only idea that has remained consistent to this day. By the fifth grade, my family bottle collection (almost all Found) was quite large, and over the years has stayed in boxes through several moves to different residences. But, whenever we lived in a place large enough for a display, out they came. Marbles now proudly sit in found Mason Jars, some favorites live with us on shelves, and some are put away until space becomes available.

Mom and Dad are gone now. The bottle collection is all in boxes, but will again enter our living space; I'm sure of it. For now, we'll settle for a few favorites. Luckily, the Internet came along for me in 1995 with access to other collections and almost anything could be located and bought with due diligence - much cleaner and no Sumac rash. Now, I am very choosy, with a different appreciation than some collectors, usually requiring no damage and a perfect specimen if I'm to add it to I add to any of my collections of vintage treasures or offer it to other collectors for sale or auction.

I have all good memories about collecting over the years, starting in very early childhood. It was much easier starting and carrying on an Internet memorabilia/collectibles business with eBay, collectible malls and fabulous access to the world of collecting - with the passion that started when I was seven. There's nothing like it.