Writing by Gloria
  • About Gloria
  • Montage Moments...Gloria's Blog
  • Author Page
  • Works in Progress
  • Speaking
  • Testimonials

Montage Moments is a page of blog postings about a variety of subjects, thoughts and opinions..

The Auction

7/20/2013

5 Comments

 
Picture
    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.

Picture
   
     
Picture
     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.
Picture
Picture
    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. 
    
Picture
    They each took the things that were particularly meaningful to them and the rest
were purchased piecemeal be the many attendees there today.
Picture
    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.'
5 Comments
Tiffany
7/20/2013 06:35:28 am

Gloria, this is wonderful and describes Mom and Dad to a 'T'. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Reply
gloria doty link
8/1/2013 07:41:16 am

Thanks Tiffany. I was hoping you would like it. Kathy liked it too but she commented on FB instead of here. I hope you are getting settled in your new (albeit temporary) home. Talk to you later. Love and blessings, Gloria

Reply
suzanne ravgiala link
9/18/2013 12:07:35 pm

just wanted to say i found your blog looking up cream and green stoves. it made me sad to think of your friends gone as i used to go to sales with my mom and now that she is gone i kinda lost interest. one day at the goodwill i just started to cry and left because she liked to go there with me. i sorta collect cream and green stuff..table..small gas stove with a ship and lighthouse..numberous kitchen dishes and knick knacks in cream and green, so i can understand their love for it too. thanks for your post.

Reply
Gloria Doty
9/18/2013 11:15:16 pm

I am so pleased you found the post about cream and green things, Suzanne. Thank you for commenting. It is so hard to lose the people we love. The memories are wonderful, but sometimes, it would be nice to have them back for just a bit. I hope you come back and visit the blog. Blessings to you.

Reply
Oriental Rugs link
10/26/2013 07:49:08 pm

I am interested in the kind of rugs you have to decorate home

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author: Gloria Doty

    Archives

    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.