Michelle Armstrong

The Amazing "Peaches"

Growing up in small town of barely 13,000 people we didn't have a lot of places to experience different cultures, music, or even different people. Except for Saturdays at the Broadacres swap meet. Every weekend my dad and I would get up early and head out to the swap meet. My dad would set up the booth to sell his wood creations he had made and I would get to explore a whole new world. I know what your thinking, a swap meet a new world "What" But as a 12-year-old kid in 1984, the swap meet was the only place to see all kinds of people and experience different cultures, foods. and music. Hundreds maybe even thousands of people on any given weekend. would pay their 50cents and embark on a cultural shopping oasis. On this particular Saturday, I was doing my usual routine of my favorite booths with my allowance in hand, waiting to find my next treasure. Off to the music man's booth. He had been coming to this swap meet for years and had 3 massive booths. Everything a 12-year-old girl could want from 300 vinyl records to over 500 cassettes. and a very handsome young man that was always super friendly. Yes, the good ole days! On this particular Saturday as I was approaching the booth I could hear the most glorious music I had ever heard blasting from 4 monster stand-alone speakers It was as if I had just heard music for the first time.