I attended an auction this morning; not just any auction. This was the selling of many, many antiques, collectables and everyday furniture and possessions.
The tables mounded to overflowing with decorations for every holiday you could imagine; inside and outside decorations.
My long-time best friend, Sherry, and her husband, Tom, loved antiques of all kinds but some specific ones as you can see in the picture. The cream and green was a particular favorite. They even had a cream and green cook stove and wringer washer.
The tables mounded to overflowing with decorations for every holiday you could imagine; inside and outside decorations.
My long-time best friend, Sherry, and her husband, Tom, loved antiques of all kinds but some specific ones as you can see in the picture. The cream and green was a particular favorite. They even had a cream and green cook stove and wringer washer.
 |  |
They had a booth in an antique mall and they had a yearly 'barn sale.' They would occasionally travel to Pennsylvania to attend some Amish auctions, where they would purchase quilts and various other items.Their inventory was rotated with the exception of the items they fell in love with. These were displayed in their home.
Tom always had some chickens. He would sell and give away many dozens of eggs. My granddaughter called him The Egg Man.
All of his chicken equipment was on the auctioneer's list, also.
Tom always had some chickens. He would sell and give away many dozens of eggs. My granddaughter called him The Egg Man.
All of his chicken equipment was on the auctioneer's list, also.
 |  |
Tom and Sherry no longer need or want any of these things because they are both in heaven now. They definitely downsized.
Sherry died of breast cancer several years ago and Tom also died of cancer this year. They have 5 children, but they could never keep all of the possessions. They would have to build rooms onto their homes just to house the stuff and besides, they are busy accumulating the things that interest them and their families.
Sherry died of breast cancer several years ago and Tom also died of cancer this year. They have 5 children, but they could never keep all of the possessions. They would have to build rooms onto their homes just to house the stuff and besides, they are busy accumulating the things that interest them and their families.
They each took the things that were particularly meaningful to them and the rest
were purchased piecemeal be the many attendees there today.
were purchased piecemeal be the many attendees there today.
Did it make me sad? Yes and no. Sad that I am no longer able to have times with Sherry and our other best friend, Kathy, and laugh until our sides hurt and cry with each other over events in our lives. We were all very different (probably nearly on polar opposite ends of the political system) and still we loved each other with an unconditional love that lasted through too many situations than is possible to list here.
As I watched people carry things away, I told myself they weren't carrying pieces of my friends because Sherry and Tom would be the first to say they were not defined by their possessions.
Let me ask you...as I asked myself, do your possessions define who you are? Sometimes, I think mine do until I stop and remember they are just that...possessions. Here today for us to enjoy and gone tomorrow. Occasionally, I become too content and proud of my possessions.
I am not in any way intimating that having a prized collection of some sort, whether it is antiques, art, cars, clothes or homes, is wrong. God intended for us to enjoy our things as long as they don't become the most important things in our lives.
Tom and Sherry truly enjoyed their antiques and the friends they made while collecting, refinishing, selling and using them, but when I think of my friends, I never think of their antiques. I think of the Christmases they adopted families and provided gifts for them or their work with The Centers For Non-Violence or Sherry's many years working with the victims of domestic violence and the countless times they opened their home to an assortment of people who needed their help. I think of their love for their family and their grandchildren. Those are the things that define them and their lives, for me.
Perhaps I will make a list today of the things that might define my life when my friends and family remember me. I certainly hope it isn't something that I 'owned.'
As I watched people carry things away, I told myself they weren't carrying pieces of my friends because Sherry and Tom would be the first to say they were not defined by their possessions.
Let me ask you...as I asked myself, do your possessions define who you are? Sometimes, I think mine do until I stop and remember they are just that...possessions. Here today for us to enjoy and gone tomorrow. Occasionally, I become too content and proud of my possessions.
I am not in any way intimating that having a prized collection of some sort, whether it is antiques, art, cars, clothes or homes, is wrong. God intended for us to enjoy our things as long as they don't become the most important things in our lives.
Tom and Sherry truly enjoyed their antiques and the friends they made while collecting, refinishing, selling and using them, but when I think of my friends, I never think of their antiques. I think of the Christmases they adopted families and provided gifts for them or their work with The Centers For Non-Violence or Sherry's many years working with the victims of domestic violence and the countless times they opened their home to an assortment of people who needed their help. I think of their love for their family and their grandchildren. Those are the things that define them and their lives, for me.
Perhaps I will make a list today of the things that might define my life when my friends and family remember me. I certainly hope it isn't something that I 'owned.'
RSS Feed
