Hi there.

Hi History Junkie. I'm Adella. I don't post much (which you've probably noticed, but are just too nice to say anything about it. Thank you, I appreciate that).

So, in addition to that awkward introduction, I'm going to talk to you about... things. Still, awkward - sorry about that. The thing is, I'm not quite sure what to talk to you about yet, which is - I know - something to be decided before typing commences, but eh, you live and you learn.

I'll be honest here - I'm not quite up on all the recent posts (it's been a weird summer) so I'm not up to date on the generally accepted formats or the posts, what is or isn't taboo, or when I'm supposed to post what, really, but here it goes anyway. And no, this post will not just be about posting - though that would be interesting, and is, in fact, the direction it seems to be going in now. Well, that, and a brief introduction of mine to you - the generalized reader (who could become not-so-anonymous through commenting, and therefore become awesome by doing so in my, rather spastic book) - to both me and my style of posting. So, we're in this together now, you and me, generalized reader and named, though still somewhat anonymous, blogger - all because I called you out a few derailments back.

Now that all of ^that^ has been thoroughly, clear-as-mud established, I'll get to the now-decided-upon point. The Happy Shack (formerly One Happy Place), a small business that I only know of from it's Gatlinburg location, and can't seem to find significant information about on the internets. So, in leu of concrete information like how to contact, directions, or really much of anything substantial, I'm going to tell you why I've been obsessed with the place since the first time I saw it - circa 2004.

1- The name. Come on, it's cute, and I'm gonna tell the truth here, it was a big (read, the main) reason that I walked into the store at age 12. That, and the big smiley face on the sign, right next to the somewhat kitschy name, which looks something like this:), only right-way-up.

2- Inside, on the second floor, in the glass cases next to the low, stair-adjacent wall are the reasons that I stayed obsessed with the place through its name change and my many years of absence: ANTIQUE BUTTONS. Yes, buttons - but not the clothing kind (although, yeah, that would be kinda great), but the Winning-Campaign/ Significant-Moment-In-History/ Losing-Campaign/ 60s-Generally-Awesome kind of buttons that make me squeak and run calling for my Mommy & Daddy's respective purses and wallets.
These babys are like birthday-present GOLD for me (Hint hint, 17 days away, hint hint) and every time I go, there's at least one that makes me want to throw a tantrum if I can't get it. At 12, it was a 60s smiley face/ peace sign-y thing that I thought was the cutest thing ever (that, and the bumble-bee colored Cat-in--the-Hat hat with extra smiley faces on the black bands, but let's just focus on the buttons for now...). A few years later (during AP US History, I believe, and yes, this side-note is actually relevant this time) it was a Dewy for President campaign button that I could not BELIEVE I was seeing. This summer, it was a 1969 Apollo11 Moon Landing Commemorative Button which depicted a picture of all of the astronauts encircled by the date of the flight and some other words I've forgotten - or (there's another model!!) Just the picture, and a faded purple ribbon with the same words that I've forgotten, and the date, written in gold. I didn't end up getting it (*Que tantrum-holding-in-because-I'm-an-adult-now), but I still feel it more than worthy of sharing with you, the aforementioned.

Can I attest to the authenticity of the buttons for sale at The Happy Shack? Well, no. No, I can't (see aforementioned rant about my inability to find a website for the store, or any information on it whatsoever... not that I really tried for long, but still). What I can attest to is that (should they turn out to be real, and I hope they are!!) the prices are fairly reasonable. The 1969 space buttons I mentioned were either $20 or $30 (apparently, you pay more for the faded ribbon), and though I've never worked up the courage to ask about the campaign buttons (which seem to span the entirety  of the 20th Century and up to the Bush-Kerry election, and include both winning and losing campaigns) I would assume that they would be similarly priced. There is also other merchandise from the 60s and 70s especially, but I can't tell you any more solid information about the authenticity of, say, rings, than I can the main object of my obsession with this store. Of course - I can tell you that the store at least used to sell purses made of recycled Kool-Aid packets for proceeds to a local something-or-another (it was 7 years ago, people, cut me some slack!)

I realize that this post has been rather convoluted, and that what is discernible is largely my telling you about something cool I saw this summer, and is without significant information on how to obtain this something. I am sorry. But - I am also pretty new at this, so I ask that you bear with me, please, and forgive me this one (though I fear there may be many) squealing-fan-of-an-obscure-store/ get-to-know-me-as-a-blogger post. I also thank you for bearing with me and my many distractions, and hope that you may have enjoyed this, my first near-contribution to The History Junkie.