Wheelchair observations at the National

[garymc]

My first National show was so incredible! Cruising the rows in my wheelchair and navigating through the masses of serious, determined faces was like a video game. My son James pushed me around and my grandson Philip took point. I showed Philip what a tobacco card looks like and when he spotted some James pushed me over and we would start our Highlander interrogation of the dealer. Halfway through the show I started to realize that the show was mostly modern and post war with some prewar sprinkled in. I got excited once when I spotted a Rose postcard in a dealer case but it turned out to be the REA booth showing items in their next auction. I soon gave up and started to enjoy people watching and searching for Pokémon and Arron Judge cards for my 8-year-old grandson Philip. It was a long and exhausting day !
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Here is some observation for my handicapped friends.
1. Parking – be prepared in not finding a parking space close to the convention hall. I had to be dropped off at the entrance and than I waited an hour for my son to come get me.
2. All the entrance doors have automatic openers. When fellow collectors see you going towards the entrance they help you.
3. All the isle widths are perfect, I had no problems. The crowds seem to flow around you
4. Bathrooms were all accessible, no problems

I went back the next day with my son and was determined to search for my show prize, Again rows and rows of modern cards. I stopped say hi to some dealers I do business with and than stumbled into the Brockelman booth. He had a lot of prewar in great condition. I saw a stack of t204’s and found my only prize of the show!

I hope again one day when the show comes back to NJ I’ll be able to go , it was so much fun.