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I got my first 2 from an antique store that was retiring and selling off their display cases. When I ran out of room from that 🙂 I had an out of work carpenter build another one on top on the original bigger one. It has metal supports and 3/8″ glass shelves. The glass people said that the glass was thick enough to support 40lbs per foot so unless I am supremely lucky enough to ever get a secret keeper, I’m confident that the shelves will support the Windstones. Now I’m running out of room again (!) so I think I will let go (with a heavy heart) some of the ones I have before I try to figure out more space. Several antique stores and jewelry shops have gone out of business, that might be a good area to keep an eye out for. The cabinets I have, one came with lights, one I installed them very inexpensively. Make sure they are in the front because of the shadows. 🙂 drgnlvr
I finally got my pictures taken of my collection (yah!) but I don’t know how to post them to the forum. I would LOVE some help on which buttons to push. The pictures are downloaded into the computer, I got that far, now what??? and how do I add comments? ANY help is deeply appreciated!!! drgnlvr
darn it, I didn’t see the price on the mermaid/turtle in time to make an offer on it 😡 If you have any other turtley things, I’m interested. Please PM me. Thanks! drgnlvr
I’m so sorry you have to go through this, DZ. My mother died of leukemia in 3 1/2 weeks from diagnosis to death and it was really hard. What I learned was to take your cue from her. My mom was pretty extraordinary and she taught me a LOT about death and dying.
I think the main thing is to take your cue from your friend. Especially if she wants to talk about what she is going through, if she is afraid, or what ever. Listening is the greatest gift you can give her because so many people “don’t know what to say so they don’t say anything at all” and the dying person feels isolated and alone. They need to talk about what is happening to them but in their own time at their own pace and they need to know that it is OK with you to talk about it.
My mom spent her time at first saying goodbye to her group friends-church, work, neighbors,etc.-, then as she got sicker, she pulled in more and wanted less company, just people she was really close to like her kids,no one else. At the end, only my brother and his wife were in the house. But during that time, she did talk a lot about her “journey” and she was comforting us because she was the one who was leaving and we were the ones who were being left behind. But often, we are only losing one person, the dying person is losing everyone and everything, depending on their perspective. (She and I shared a spiritual belief(unshared by my siblings) so when I said at one point “Mom, if we are right about this stuff, will you find a way to let me know?” she said “Why of course!” like “sure I’ll send you a postcard from Chicago!” and she has let me know, many times over.)
I don’t know if this is your first experience with the death of someone close to you. If it is, it does change you. My mom was my first, then my husband, then my best friend, then my dad. Each one is different because each relationship is different and it never is easy, but evenutally I kinda got the map to grief so it didn’t feel so crazy. In a way, I feel lucky that my mom “chose” to go out this way because there was enough time to “finish unfinished business” with her and say goodbye but not too long where she had to spend a lot of time suffering. My dad had Alzheimer’s and spent 12 years dying. Tooo long, tooo hard on eveyone, mostly him. My husband and best friend went instantly and that wasn’t enough time.
I have no idea if this is helpful or not. In answer to your question, the answer depends on the state of my health and how I felt. If I knew I was going to get munched by a truck (like a former intern of mine did last night!) I would certainly go and do and have some experiences that I wouldn’t have now not knowing that. I also know I can’t live my life assuming I’m going out that way. But having a terminal diagnosis where I am most likely going to be feeling pretty miserable, I would probably be staying closer to the comforts of home and family and paying attention to pain killers and what to do with my stuff. Death always makes me look at how I’m spending my life, but right now I’m doing pretty much what I want to with it. Of course there are always more experiences to have, I would have to already be dead not to look forward to something.
Anyway, I guess it isn’t clear to me what this is bringing up for you, how to help your friends or what it brings up in terms of your own life. On a practical note, is hospice going to be involved? They were very helpful with my parents. Please stay in touch and know that my thoughts and empathy is with you. Been there, done that. drgnlvrI just love the rainbows in whatever form they come and I’m so glad they are coming back in the new forms! I never noticed the noses particularly although I probably would have if they were black or something really awful. They are my favorite color and the empeas a close second, the colors are so alive and vibrant, especially when the sunlight hits them, they are incredible! (I’m sorry they’re such a pain to paint, Zorse, but I’m grateful! 😀 )
Arlla, my heart goes out to you. I used to work in a battered women’s shelter and I want to tell you from here. You are in the middle of the cycle of violence. The battering, then the sweetness, then the increased violence, then the “helpfulness”, then the violence again. Your mother really needs to understand that IT WILL NOT GET BETTER and HE WILL NOT CHANGE!!. Not until she is really and truly finished. NO MORE PROMISES! If he is court-ordered or volunteers into anger management classes for ONE YEAR, and he makes the committment to attend consistently, there is a slight chance he might make some significant changes, although the relapse rate is very high. But unless those are the conditions your mom sets for any consideration of reconciliation, she will continue to endanger herself and you.
This is a poem I got when I worked at the shelter and I still give it to my clients who need to hear it.
I Got Flowers Today
I got flowers today. It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day.
We had our first argument last night. And he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn’t mean the things he said.
Because he sent me flowers today.I got flowers today. It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day.
Last night he threw me against a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare. I couldn’t believe it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
But I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.I got flowers today. It wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day.
Last night he beat me up again. And it was much worse than all the other times. If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids? What about money? I’m afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.I got flowers today. Today was a very special day. Today was the day of my funeral.
Last night he finally killed me. He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough couage and strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flowers today.I don’t know who wrote it so I don’t know who to credit it to.
Please, Arlla’s mom, find the strength and courage and believe that all the help and support you need is reaching out for you and a new life is waiting for you. Let the ones who have been there light your path. Love and Light to you both drgnlvr
Aetharia, this has been a fascinating “journey’ for me to travel with you all. I feel so honored to be part of such a caring loving dedicated TERRIFIC group of people! You even care enough to fight and then come back for more of each other, you are so- family!
I honor and respect your decision to respect this lady and her sister’s privacy. I am wondering if there is a way to convey to the shopkeeper/sister what an impact her sister had on all of us with her love of what we all love amd the love and concern we all had for her sister. I kinda think that the way her sister’s family treated her sister’s possessions with so little respect may make her feel more isolated and alone and if she knew that people all over the world were so concerned for her sister and for what happened to her, and that we are all grieving a loving caring fellow Windstone collector and were sending all this love and caring for her sister, that it might ease her pain a little. “Grief shared is grief halved and joy shared is joy doubled.” Perhaps you could do that on behalf of all of us? If that’s OK?
The universe is truly an amazing place! You were exactly the right person to do this job, Aetharia, no one else was exactly as right as you were for this, th right place, the right time, the right help, the right mind, the right need, the right knowledge, everything the Universe needed to do its job. So whatever you decide to do will also be the right thing, no need to question it.(I’m constantly amazed!)
I’m so glad we got to hear what happened to the lady, even when if was so sad! Thank you so much for pursuing this and keeping us informed, I know it must have exhausting as well as exciting. Thank you! drgnlvrSorry, I misread your post, I’m looking for a rainbow OW as I guess everyone is. Good luck with selling your emperor!! drgnlvr
I don’t know if there is a way to check recent admissions to nursing homes in the area without breaking confidentiality rules, but maybe asking the local Area Agency on Aging or Ohmsbudsman’s office for assistance. I think if I were there, I would pretend to be a long lost relative of “Aunt Maggie”‘s who had forgotten her married name and was looking for her. “She was my grandmother’s sister’s cousin on my father’s side and all I remember is she used to make quilts and collect dragons and she was a real sweetie! 😀 😀 I heard she had to go into a home but I wasn’t told which one, so I’m searching through as many as I have time for. Can you help me?”(batting eyes) It’s a long shot but we don’t know for sure if she’s even passed away, we’ve assumed that. I don’t know how big a town we’re talking about but I’m assuming it’s not the size of Chicago or New York. It would take some time but the only time pressure would be how much time she has left and how time someone has to spend on the project. Maybe there is another way to see besides all that too, agencies keep records.
Did our lucky lady’s fiance come up with anything at the shop? drgnlvrI agree with keschete, I think this lady meant for you to find her treasure knowing that you will know exactly what to do with it and will love and appreciate it in a way that only a fellow Windstone lover would and that her family couldn’t, and knowing that, she can, by helping her to take good care of her beloved Windstones, help you through college. (The Universe never ceases to amaze me!)
Given that, I’ve told my son, that if he ever lets the thought cross his mind to sell my Windstones for .10 at a yard sale he will be haunted by one angry ghost-mother for the rest of his life! So as he and 1 granddaughter are the only 2 family members who appreciate my collection, they get to inherit it. It does bring home to me again though, unless I make it clear what I want done with my stuff, someone else will decide for me and it may not be what I had in mind, AND I HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN!! not just tell, promise, or assume. Otherwise, it all may end up in the back room of an antique shop in the hands of strangers.(or in a yard sale for .10!)
I do join the rest of us in envious heartfelt congradulations on your incredible find and may the rest of us have such good luck!! drgnlvr
P.S. I’d like to put in a word for the flapcats, please!
