Three years ago in November I needed to make a change in my life as I was forced to end an unhealthy marriage. Rather than uproot my ex-husband’s apartment, I took only the bare essentials which amounted to a few boxes of books and craft supplies, personal items and a few pieces of bedroom furniture. I moved into my apartment at the Flag House in 2008. The bare apartment was in dire need of furnishings and with a limited budget I was feeling pretty down.
I set out to find some serious bargains at garage and barn sales as well as the Goodwill. I ended up finding an out of town ad for my favorite type of country style furniture – harvest green with light oak tops. It was affordable. I took it in ‘as is’ condition. I could see the beauty in it though it was dirty and in need of attention. It took many weeks of elbow grease and all sorts of polish for its natural beauty to shine through. When I was finished I had eight beautiful pieces of furniture.
Still in December I was dragging in a rocking chair, floor lamp and an end table. On Christmas Eve I hauled in eclectic treasures from friends and family and I was tired. Not one cookie had been baked, no holiday decorations were up and I was feeling down in the dumps. I had just passed the antique shop in Spring City, and the blinking light said, “Open”. On an impulse, I turned around and drove into their parking lot. I went inside to find the most delightful lady with her young granddaughter. I asked when was closing time? She sweetly said, “Don’t worry about it, just take your time. I’m still waiting for my daughter to pick up my granddaughter.” I noticed a precious, slim, artificial tree, lit and fully trimmed with hand painted country ornaments. My funds were lower than the cost of the tree, but the sales clerk worked out a real bargain for me. Her heart was full of the Christmas spirit, and the unexpected stop turned into a blessing for me that lifted my sprits. Her daughter arrived and offered to help me take the tree home. It fit beautifully in the corner of my living room as if it were planned in advance. It completed my decor and brought all the mismatched pieces together in a beautiful arrangement. My Christmas spirit returned and the tree stays up all year as a reminder of this lovely neighbor who runs the shop.
I love my apartment at the Flag House and the surrounding community. I have many friends and neighbors who look out for each other. I truly enjoy living here.
