LIFE A LITTLE SIDEWAYS

Sideway LIFE A LITTLE

Iknew from birth that I wasn't quite right. I'd only lay on my left side, One foot always had to be uncovered and sticking out between the bars of my crib. I spent most of my time observing the world, trying to make sense of it. Maybe since I did most of those early observations laying on my side, I grew up seeing and doing things somewhat differently than lots of folks — a little sideways, if you will.

It stands to reason that I've always admired like-minded, "sideways" people who think outside that boring, proverbial box. Such is the case with my best friend/adopted sister, Judy Curtis of Denison, Tx. The closest this creative woman gets to the box is when she uses them to ship things to the customers of her thriving, very unique business — sticks and rocks!

You read that right, friends. For the last few years Curtis has made a nice, extra income selling the very things I've spent years burning, tossing in the garbage or disposing of in sometimes questionably legal ways. Plain, old sticks - those things that fall from trees - are actually a best seller.

Someone please explain this to me. Rather than walking 10 feet outside their doors, bending down and picking up sticks they've been tripping over for weeks, people go online and buy those very same sticks plus pay shipping to have it mailed to them. In fact, the mail people probably have to step over aforementioned sticks just to deliver a box of sticks to their door!

And that's not all. Pine cones, pine needles, pretty or odd rocks, bamboo, acorn caps and for rusted stuff that she's learned all-natural techniques for speeding up the rusting process

ously haunted doll featured on many of those ghost hunting reality shows. Even Curtis' twin sister, Carol, runs the opposite direction from these particularly ghoulish finds, but not Curtis. She lovingly digs them out of creek banks and wood piles after they've been abandoned for unknown reasons by former owners and then promptly sells them. The fact that there are folks anxiously awaiting these dolls is even a bit disturbing for me, but I'm a little weird too, so who am I to judge? In short, where many see garbage, junk, debris or just useless items, Curtis sees possibilities and dollar signs. All are free for her taking and with a little or sometimes no elbow grease, they are soon on their way to new homes across, not just the nation, but the world. Even worse, my friend has now "assimilated" me into her world. I've nearly been run over more than once just walking through parking lots, my head Photo courtesy Lynette George; Old, broken dolls found buried in creek banks or garbage heaps are always popular. down, searching for bottle caps and the like. It has, however, opened my eyes to the many unexpected income possibilities nature and the world in general provides us with every single day. Who knows? Maybe there's a market after seeds of all kinds are big sellers four-legged kids leave everywhere they go. too - all things that can be easily found for Wait. Curtis just informed me that there is free in nature. Don't even get me started on indeed a large market for certain dog and cat the popularity of rusted metal. Flattened, fur gleaned from daily grooming. Folks apparrusted bottle caps, cans, bed springs and just ently weave it into all types of furry creations. about anything else rusted are always popular In the only response I can think of to that items. In fact, my friend gets so many requests handy information, whodathunkit? all for the dog and cat fur that my so she can fill orders. I kid you not. She even uses left over pieces and parts to create her own, unique art pieces, wall hangings, dream catchers and more. LYNETTE GEORGE is the former lifestyles editor and some times reporter for the Herald Democrat in Denison/Sherman

During her weekly foraging trips through for about 20 years. Her creeks, ravines, thick forests, roadsides and sometimes zany outlook even her own yard, Curtis also often discovers unnatural oddities which have proven popular. Take, for instance, her scary doll and doll part collection she lovingly (and comically) refers to on life gives her an enviable sense of humor like no other. She lives in Denison and her love of animals prevents her from ever passing an animal in need. She may be reached as her "Annabelles," named after the notoriat nettiegeorge79@gmail.com.