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I spent a week in France in early December, visiting my father who lives there (it’s a long story).

We decided to stop in the lovely town of St. Andre des Eaux to pick up some baguettes and bend elbows at the local bar for a beer or two; if you find yourself in a similar situation, do not opt for French beer - it is clear that the French would rather stake their reputation on their wines.

There is also apparently a thriving grass roots military surplus business in western France (Bretagne), as indicated by this sign posted over every lamp post in the center of town. This sign invites townfolk to drop in on the town parking lot on Thursday morning for a big sale of American military surplus, some new and some used, featuring all of the basic items that army/navy stores carry here in the U.S. of A; belts, backpacks, coats, flags vests, BDUs, socks, etc.. Unfortunately, I could not attend the actual sale.

But it was refreshing to see that military surplus is still sold the old-fashioned way in France, upholding a tradition that makes our industry a small world after all.