Friday, March 13, 2020

Back From The Abyss



It's been a while...Let's catch up!

I spent December with family in Illinois.  In early January, Oldest Daughter and I went down to Mississippi to get the house Wild Bill and I bought last August ready to sell. 

Our house was located in the town of Southaven (northern Mississippi) just south of Memphis Tennessee.



On the night of January 11, 2020, there was a bad storm in the Memphis area. In Germantown TN (west side of Memphis) 20 to 30 houses were demolished by the storm.

The next day, Sunday the 12th, a couple standing in the middle of the lot that was her home the day before, made a call to a realtor friend. The couple had been planning to marry in the spring, then buy a new house together in the summer...

"We're going to need a house a lot sooner than we thought!" they told their realtor friend as they picked through the rubble of her home.

"I have the perfect house for you."  Realtor Friend replied.




I was packing boxes that Sunday (getting ready to have our realtor put the house on the market) when he called me asking if I would be willing to let a friend of his see the house right away. How could I refuse when I heard their situation? 



The next day, Monday Jan 13th, the couple came to see our house... packing boxes and all! 



All the home-selling advice you will ever get advises you against showing a house before it's cleaned up and ready -- but what the heck -- I had a feeling.

They came, they saw, they liked. But...they wanted to look at the competition, just in case. I knew they were "The One's" and didn't even bother to put the house on the market. 



A few weeks later, the couple returned with her 3 daughters to look one more time. 

On our back patio that day (with an engagement ring in his pocket) he got down on his knee and proposed to her and her girls. 



They got married a few weeks later and, as a brand new family, they moved into the house at the end of February. 

I left them most of the new furniture we had just bought and moved on. The house was never really our home, it's just a place we once lived. 


Wild Bill, 1996, I Would Love To Do It All Over Again



Thanks for dropping by!



39 comments:

  1. Kathy, it really worked out for everyone. They are about the same age as Bill and I were when we married. And I was a single mom with 3 girls too. May he be as good a dad to her girls as Bill was to mine.

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  2. What a wonderful story - I had tears in my eyes. I hadn't realised the house you bought was so large. Are you moving closer to family?

    Wishing you all the best whatever you are doing.

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    1. Susan, it was a large house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs with a large bonus room over the garage. We only used the 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms downstairs, but bought the house because we knew it would be a quick resell.

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    1. Thank you D/Bird! I'm struggling with how to go on from this point because, as you point out, it seems it is the end.

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  4. What a whirlwind of activity. I am happy you sold so quickly, but it is sad that you didn't get to call it "home".
    I applaud you for moving forward - here is to new beginnings my dear.
    Take care.

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    1. Cheryl, I know you feel my pain having been through it yourself. Lots of false starts on the road to new beginnings. Most days, I just want to hide out.

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  5. This story made me cry. What a perfect family for your home. It's so good to hear from you. I wish you the very best!

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    1. I've missed you too, Henny! And yes, I was happy to see the house get a younger family. The bottom floor was great for us, but the top floor needed two of those little girls to make it a happy place.

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  6. Awwww Sugar, what a story and it was meant to be! I love how you just knew that they were the ones that should buy the house. They will make wonderful memories there. Blessings to you....😘

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    1. Thank you Kitty. It was almost like Wild Bill sent them to the realtor. Bill was always the protector of us, the man of the new family is a detective with the police department.

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  7. Rivercrest Cottage,
    The greatest sense of p e a c e just flooded over my soul. . .I, truly, believe this was God's plan all along. . .for Wild Bill and You and this couple!
    Thank you for sharing this precious ending of this chapter in your life.
    Do keep in touch. . .and let us know what the next Chapter of Rivercrest Cottage has to hold.
    Pat

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  8. Thanks Pat. I'm staying with Middle Daughter's family for a year or so. We're thinking of buying a bigger house with a grandma's retreat downstairs for me. Time will tell. For now I'm loving being in a house with kids again.

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  9. Oh, Sugar, what a beautiful story. Sounds just about ideal. You weren't being wrenched from a "home" you and Bill had loved for years, just a house you'd lived in for a short time. Selling it without even listing it. To a family in a similar situation as yours had been. Wow! And I loved that he proposed to her there on the patio. Sweet! Was so happy to hear from you today. Looking forward to your next post.

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    1. Jean, thank you for your comment. What I loved was that he proposed to her with the girls. The youngest is 8. She was really upset about all the trauma they'd gone through. She saw our paintings and tearfully told the realtor "all our pictures got wet!" It broke my heart when I heard that. I left her a large picture of lambs from Pier 1 in the closet of the room I was told she had selected. I truly hope they have a blessed life and make that house into a loving home.

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    2. What a sweet and thoughtful thing to do! I'm sure when that little girl discovered the picture she was ecstatic. That family will likely never forget you!

      I hope you are staying safe and well through this current disaster.

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  10. Hello Friend! If this is not serendipity, I don't know what is. How wonderful for them and you as well! You are right about it being a "place that you once lived." It's advice I was given when we sold our family's home. It helped me to let go of the house, as the memories, the good memories were what was and is the treasure, not the "things" or the house.

    It was good to see your post today! Take care of yourself!

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  11. Let go.
    Go on.
    Our lives are comprised of endings & new beginnings. Many blessings to you.

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    1. Wise words, Mary. Lots of false starts, but I'm moving in the right direction I think.

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  12. I was so happy to see your post, I have been thinking of you. It sounds as if you have a plan for the future, and what could be nicer for you than being so close to one of your daughters and grandchildren. I hope that you continue to post and let us know how you are doing. Take care.

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  13. How great to have this wonderful couple buy your place. With all you have been dealing with this is a nice thing to have happen. Been thinking about you and hoping you have been doing ok. Take care. xoxo

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    1. Thank you Kris. I've been enjoying your posts on your new She Shed. Life goes on.

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  14. OMG! I have tears in my eyes. What a beautiful story! Enjoy your week. Glad you are back. You were missed.

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  15. What a lovely story. They got a great house.
    Now you don't have to go through the hassle of putting it on the market. : )

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  16. Sometimes things work out like that, lovely. I hope that you will be safe and happy in your new place.
    Amalia
    xo

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  17. That's the sweetest thing ever. And sometimes you just know. So generous to leave your furniture -- your assessment is spot on. It was just a place where you lived. Sometimes things just fall into place.

    Thanks so much amidst all this to take time to come visit me at Marmelade Gypsy. I loved your comments.

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  18. Well that was meant to be, at least you didn't have to wait months on end to sell. I wish you the very best as you move on, I hope you will keep us updated!

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  19. What a beautiful post.. good to see you back in my "in box" !! Tuesday blessings!!

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  20. So glad to hear that you were able to sell your home and that you are staying with your family and not alone during this time. Glad that you enjoyed this post and thanks so much for taking the time to visit and for your sweet comment!! Please stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  21. This is such a lovely post and I am so glad that you found the ‘right’ buyer at the right time. Congratulations and stay safe and healthy.

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  22. Visiting after reading a comment you left on Pat’s blog. I am so sorry to learn of your husband’s passing. What a beautiful story that occurred with the selling of your home. God does provide!

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  23. This post chocked me up a bit. I'm glad the house sold. One day you will do it all over again with Wild Bill, just not on earth, and let's face who wants to at the moment?

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  24. I am so glad to see you back again, my friend! And what a beautiful story you had to tell us. Your photo of Wild Bill made me wish I'd known him. Stay well, and keep letting is know how you are and where you are. I think life has more adventures for you.

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  25. I read this a couple of months ago, and then must have forgot to comment or didn't have any words at the time. It is bitter sweet. Your instincts were right. And I hope they have as much happiness as you both did. xoxo

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  26. Hope you post soon, so we know how you are doing.

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  27. Will be watching for you !!! :)

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