My Grandfather, the Antique Dealer, a Tribute

I was lucky to grow up with a kind Grandfather. He wasn't like a soft spoken, white haired Norman Rockwell type but, spirited and jovial. In the chilly months he always wore an Irish tweed flat cap. It was a perfect frame for his rosy cheeks and smile which lit up his blue eyes. He was a round man and sometimes some might say jolly when he was on a great joke streak! Gosh he was the best story teller and boy did he have the stories from his youth to share! At dinner is when he would spin a good yarn and keep you captivated or giggling so hard you had to take a deep breath!
He is the one who taught me about selling, appreciating antiques and history from probably about the age of five. My Grandfather never said you can't. He was always positive. At antique shows he would send me, the little one to the table to answer customer's questions. He watched on fondly because I was mimicking his magical selling and social skills. I rarely recall being yelled at by my Grandfather. His approach was more about asking you what you thought or learned. He didn't need to tower over me to make a point. To disappoint him would have been shameful to me. As an adult I now realize his patience and lack of quick judgement is called great parenting. It is admirable.
I miss him everyday. When I come across a rare find I know he standing next to me just as giddy as me. He loved the thrill of a great find but, also speaking to the people who owned special things. He really liked to hear their stories. He would in turn pass these stories down when he sold to someone else. Many times you find my items at shows with not just a price but, a little bit of history written with it.
The day my Grandfather died I knew I had an angel by my side the rest of my life. XOXO

A Ghost Comes To Visit

I have to share some odd situations I have been in because it just seems like people love to talk about strange happenings. I am not one of those people who dismiss a spirit is always gone instantly from earth so these interactions made me think and some gave comfort.

In the beginning of this blog I talk about my deceased Grandfather. We were very close and he was a positive light in my life. Prior to his death I would go to the hospital and sit with him and sometimes read the newspaper out loud. I was not with him when he died. I came home very somber from my Grandfather's home. I lived alone. I was thinking about him and very sad with a heavy heart. I walked down the hallway and dining room and into the kitchen. I left a newspaper on the counter for the next day. I turned the kitchen light on. On the floor was each section of the newspaper neatly opened up and lined up down my long kitchen floor. I smiled and cried at the same time. I am weeping now as I write this because he came to comfort me one last time. Coincidentally I already had a flight booked to Maine right after his funeral. I was looking out my plane window and we were in puffy clouds. I looked down and closed my eyes. It made me think of heaven. I said Pap let me know you are alright. I looked back out the window and high in the sky between those puffy clouds was a rainbow. When it is my time I hope to ride a rainbow to meet my Pap again.

I owned a formal girls shop in a very small town. I call these towns "one horse towns." It was on a corner by the one street light. I always had the window dressed to perfection with the wooden top mannequins in puffy dresses and a theme. Perhaps because the name was "American Lass," led to my next encounter. It was unusually busy for a Tuesday morning. I finished up with a customer and the door bell jingles again. I look up and I instantly think something is not adding up with the man standing in front of me. He is in full military uniform. He is in that old khaki green. This is not the uniform you see today. I say hello and ask how I may help him. He tells me his name which I instantly forget but, this is not uncommon for me. He asks where I am from and proceeds to tell me I should know his family as they are from the Hempfield High School area. I tell him I don't but, he clearly does not see I am much younger than him. He starts talking about this grocery store that has not been open since possibly 1980 called Gee Bee's as if it is still open. This is 2013. At that point I am honestly nervous because I am alone and wondering if this man just walked out of a mental institution. I just stand there doing the ok, nodding head thing. He finally says his car is broke down in the lot below and if I knew someone could help or could I give him money. There is no lot down the block. I told him sorry I could not help. When he goes to leave I now see his one pant leg cuffed. He lost a leg in the war. Unbelievably a person walks in after him whom I don't know so I can't say like hey did you see that man in the 1960's military uniform...Because when I looked it up I found it appeared to be an Army Officer uniform from the Vietnam War era. My landlord suffered injuries during the Vietnam War and had an office in my building. Out of respect I would not bring this to his attention but, maybe that is how this ghost ended up at my door too. You know I knew by the end it was not real but, what haunts me is it is out of my character not to help someone. I said I could not help but, I have a huge heart for Vietnam Vets because I feel many were not appreciated and were victimized again by poor physical and mental healthcare when they came home and still to this day.

I got a couple more but, you will have to wait!!