It was May 1997.

We were driving from Portland, Oregon to Walla Walla, Washington for the Spring Commencement ceremonies, where Meda was slated to receive an “Alumni of Merit” award.

Along the way, a “flea market” sign on a storefront in Umatilla, a small town in Eastern Oregon, drew Meda’s attention and brought us to a temporary stop.

I don’t remember much about the store, but you always get an interesting view of a place while wandering through its thrift stores or flea markets.