I met this beautiful young couple the year I did my very first show: Yankee Peddler Festival 1990. They selected one of my large Ragamuffin dolls, and they asked me if I would sign it for them. I can remember how they looked. The smiles on their faces. I could tell how much they loved each other. It was all there. Shining. I saw them again, each year. Standing there with their most recent purchase. Waiting, patiently, for me to sign their newest “baby”.
I thought about them often. There was something about the two of them that touched me. I couldn’t get them out of my mind.
I continued seeing Mel and Garry through the years. This happy young couple seemed to become happier together with each passing year. One day, I received a beautiful pillow from Mel. She made it herself. I cried. It’s on the sofa in my living room. It will always be there, where I can see it. And then one day, Mel began doing shows! When I saw her booth at EJ Thomas’ Christmas Show, I knew she had ‘arrived’. Her booth was filled with pillows and dolls. Dolls!! They were all so “Mel”. She was so happy. Smiling. Shining.
Then one day, she and Garry got “called” to China. By a little girl they named appropriately, Hope. They were in their glory, raising this precious gift. Their “baby”. And then came another “call”. Her name is Claire.
They arrived on Saturday, and stood in the middle of my booth. I couldn’t believe it. There they were. The four of them. Years later. Just like they had always been. Happy. Smiling. The difference this time was huge. Not only were the two of them smiling, but there were two precious china dolls smiling along with them. All of them, together, shining. Their smiles were bright enough to light up the world. Mel and Garry plus two!
What I haven’t told you about Mel, is that she has incredible faith. Perhaps greater faith than anyone I have ever met. Ever. And that faith is something I have always admired. It’s just ‘there’. You can’t see it, but you can ‘taste’ it. It’s like an elixir that encompasses the air around her. Even when you aren’t in her physical presence. It’s there. Hovering.
A while back, I wrote a post called, My Mother's Smile. I talked about how Wendy's Frosties is one of the few things that makes my mother (who has alzheimer's) smile. Mel and the girls were at Wendy's shortly afterward, when Hope noticed writing on the side of her bag of French fries, and asked Mel to read it to her. It said: “It’s impossible to frown while eating a Frosty.”
Back to Saturday: Mel handed me a beautiful gift bag. Inside, was a pillow she had made for me. And there, embroidered in the center, “It’s impossible to frown while eating a Frosty.”! I cried. Mel cried. I will treasure it always. It has a place of honor in the living room. On the sofa. Next to the other pillow I treasure. Just like her!
And the cardinals on the border fabric: that’s a story for another day!
Have a glorious week, wherever you are, whatever you do. Be sure
to notice all ‘treasures’ in your life. You'll find them everywhere!
