Always say, I learn something at every Estate Sale.
This one, was no different.
Not sure that I 'Learned'... something, but...
certainly
'Felt'
something, I never have... before.
This Estate... was different, from all of the others.
The Couple who lived in the Home we were working at, had moved here from Southern, Iowa...
three years ago, to take care of the Wife's Brother, in Cedar Rapids.
He was suffering from severe Parkinson's Disease.
The Couple... {Linda, and Chuck} had no more... than moved into their new Home, hadn't even unpacked boxes, when Linda was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
: ( : ( : (
Linda... sadly, passed away within three months.
Chuck... as anyone would imagine, was devastated.
The Home... sat, with boxes everywhere.
Never unpacked.
When we came in... Chuck was preparing the Home, to be resold.
Gratefully...
Chuck, met a Lovely Woman, through their Church, and remarried, not long ago.
After getting to know them, I'm pretty certain... She... saved Chuck's life.
<3
{God... Works That Way. <3}
So... Bill and I, began unpacking.
Bill... in the garage, me... in the Home.
I've always said, you get to know a person... during these Sales, through their possessions.
I... got to 'know'... Linda.
<3
I... So would've liked her.
: )
I... could tell, how Incredibly Kind, and Loving... she was.
: )
but...
it was so Bittersweet.
: (
I... struggled, often, while unpacking those boxes.
Thinking... about when Linda, and Chuck... packed them, so carefully...
they had not a Clue, Bill... and I, would be 'unpacking' them.
: (
I... tried very hard, to place things... 'Stage'... the Home, as I felt...
Linda would've.
: )
Linda Loved... the color 'Lavender'.
Learned that... right away, as I began unpacking her 'Life'.
: )
Chuck had painted their Bedroom 'Lavender', for Linda... when they first moved in.
<3
That room, tho... it had to be packed Full, for the Sale, I... really tried to make it reflect 'Linda'.
: )
Linda's Sister in Law, came through... just before the Sale.
: )
She confirmed everything I 'Felt', concerning Linda.
<3
'Good Vibes'.
<3
She was very happy with the way we'd set the House up.
I... was grateful for her kind comments.
This one... was Tuff.
yet...
I'm so Happy for Chuck, and his Lovely... also, Kind... and Caring...
'Wife'.
<3
The Sale... turned out to be much bigger, than we'd anticipated.
There was so much, we hadn't seen on our 'walk throughs'.
The Garage attic, with not only Books, that we'd anticipated... but Ton's of Household.
: )
Oh My.
Grateful for Gayle, and Grandson, Justin.
<3
{been a bit longer...
than
a
'week'.}
; )
While working on the Sale... I'd been getting calls from Contractors, wanting to set up appointments.
There... was Simply, No Way... I could do Anything, but work on that Sale, period.
Made appointments, as soon as I could, which... was 'Tuesday' after.
Peg's Daughter, Sarah... also, reached out to me, wanting to know if I wanted anything of her Mom, and Dad's.
: (
I'm... still... reeling, about Peg's... Michael... Passing away, so Suddenly, in January.
: (
I feel so incredibly sorry for Sarah.
: (
She wants to get everything done, concerning Michael's Home, as quickly as possible.
I... couldn't get to Sarah, any sooner than 'Tuesday'.
Tuesday... Tuesday... Tuesday.
: (
Set up an appointment with one of the Contractors...
Tuesday morning, at 7 a.m.
I walked outside, around 6:30... to see Trash... Strewn across the entire frontage of our land, and on South... for a hundred feet.
Oh... no.
: (
Grabbed a trash bag... picked up Everything, except what was all over Highway 151.
{sorry... I wouldn't risk my life... for it. ; )
Eventually that, too... blew in the yard. It's All picked up, now.
'J' helped, with the second 'Clean Up'. }
I examined some of the trash... found names.
; )
Asked Son, Justin... if he knew who the people are.
; )
He did.
Gave the Neighbor a call.
; )
He came right over, after checking his security cameras.
Seems the Garbage Dude slung a bag of trash too high, it came off of the Garbage Truck, when he got on 151.
; )
{great place for a 'Bike Trail'... Fairfax, and IDOT.}
The Neighbor was Very... apologetic.
: )
'No... Worries'.
: )
Just... not something I needed, 'Tuesday' morning.
Got the appointment done, then.. Justin and I headed to the 'Sale' to meet with Folk's who were picking up items.
I... bought some concrete stones, for landscaping... that Justin, Gratefully loaded, and... unloaded for me.
: )
Came back Home... unloaded, then... went to meet Sarah.
: )
That was Tuff.
Very.
: (
Sarah... hates being at Michael's.
: (
I... hate it...too.
: (
Pal, Dale... met me at Sarah's Home, where she had some things she wanted me to take.
We filled his Bronco, and The Ford... between both places.
So... many, many... memories.
Sarah... took in Michael's two Pups, when he passed away.
Teddy, and Charlie.
<3
As we were standing outside, Sarah told me, a couple of weeks ago, Teddy was outside, with Sarah's Beloved, Bill.
Bill turned around, and Teddy was gone.
Bill called Sarah, at work... said Teddy was nowhere to be found.
Sarah Raced Home... to look for Teddy, she found him....
horribly crushed, deceased, on Mt. Vernon Road, where they live.
Oh Dear LORD!!!
: (..........................................
No Words.
: (............................................
{I've been 'there'... too many, many times. }
No Words
: (
Lot's of Tears.
Lots, and Lot's of Tears.
: (
That little Cupboard, is coming back... 'Home'.
<3
Have No Idea... where I'm going to go with everything Sarah sent.
Was thinking, this morning... I should do a
'Peggy Jo'
Room, at The Rabbit Hole.
: )
<3
Before we went to Michael's...
Sarah Gifted Dale with one of Peg's Birdhouses.
<3
Dale... So Loved Peg.
: )
Sarah doesn't part with Any of Peg's 'Art'... but, she wanted Dale... to have that little Birdhouse.
<3
So Kind.
<3
I... could write more, but...
I, really...
can't.
I've been spending a little time, this week... at The Rabbit Hole.
Not 'doing' much.
Mainly...
Soaking It In.
Watching... The Fountains.
Feeding... 'The Fish'.
<3
Decompressing.
There's been too many 'Roller Coaster Rides', for too long, for too many.
Had a Nice... Couple stop by The Rabbit Hole, yesterday.
