(Pic)Sometimes You Find Something That is So Perfect..It's Weird!

14 years ago

The marker was placed on my husbands grave back in March and after it was placed, I decided I wanted a concrete bench to put at the foot of the grave. I didn't really have any certain thing in mind..just a bench. I'd found some plain ones at Walmart..but they were $50 and I was really hoping to find one a bit cheaper. Back in April I called a guy that makes them (his were $45ea. So friends and I rode the 30 miles to his place. He had the legs made..but no tops! That would have been a wasted trip if my friends hadn't bought a birdbath!

Last Friday I had to go to Walmart and decided to check and see if they'd marked the benches down. Nope..still $50!!!

I'm sure most of you have heard about the Worlds Longest Yard Sale. It start/ends (depending on which way you're traveling)here in Gadsden and is 654 miles long. For about 7yrs. now a friend and I shop til we drop for about 50 miles of it...until last year. Last year at this time, it was taking all the effort I had just to breathe and function.

The sale started Thursday, so we decided to go up about 10mi of it.! As we were coming back down the mountain, I spotted some bird baths and BENCHES!! I yell STOP!! We get out and the 1st one I looked at had Angels/Cherubs on it! Nope..not what I wanted. Actually I didn't know WHAT I wanted...just that that wasn't "it"! Walked up a bit and I about fell over when I looked at the next one! It had a DRAGONFLY on it! THAT was all I saw! I yelled for my friend and tell her I found one with a Dragonfly! She walks over, looks and says..OMG, it's got a Hummingbird on it! THEN, I saw the Hummingbird! She says...IT'S PERFECT!! I told her I didn't know if it was perfect (or not) until the guy gave me a price on it! Knowing in my heart that I probably wasn't going to be able to afford it (and wondering what I could sell to get it) I asked the guy how much it was! When he said $40.00, I about fell over. There was NO way we could put that heavy thing in my friends car(little KIA) and we're trying to figure out who to call or what to do when the guy asked where I live. I told him! He said he's goes through here every week..and he will DELIVER it to my house! (My son and I can take it to the cemetery! I wrote the guy a check..adding $5.00 for his gas and delivering it!!

Why was this bench the PERFECT one? My husband and I always looked forward to the Hummingbirds showing up in the Spring..and we spent many many hours on the porch watching them. And, the Dragonfly has become very significant to me because of the Dragonfly Story! And, what makes me happy...really happy about it,is I feel like I was "led" to this bench!

I didn't realize until Friday morning that this was the 1st time I'd felt really happy about anything since he died! (June 21,2008)

He and his wife brought it this morning!

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Comments (44)

LorifromUtah
14 years ago
Wow Brenda!
It's like that bench was waiting for you to come and claim it!

Lori
vicki_lv
14 years ago
This story has left me with a huge lump in my throat. I didn't scroll down far enough to see the bench, until I was finished reading the entire thing. The bench is beautiful and I do think it was meant just for you and your DH.

May you find peace as you place it at his feet. I am sure he will be looking down and knowing full well, that you found something to be happy about. May you continue to find happiness in your life.

(((Country Bumpkin)))
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carol_in_california
14 years ago
It was meant to be.....I am happy your heart is a little bit lighter.
sheilajoyce_gw
14 years ago
It is really lovely. You should have bought another one for your garden!
Lindsey_CA
14 years ago
Oh, my gosh, that gave me goosebumps! It was simply meant to be, that you'd find this perfect bench. :-)
gemini40
14 years ago
What a beautiful story , thanks for posting it for all of us to read and reflect.

June
Hellion
14 years ago
So glad you found the perfect bench. It is very pretty.
roseluver
14 years ago
Very pretty bench. I am so happy that you are happy!!
Marilyn Sue McClintock
14 years ago
Very pretty and so perfect.

Sue
gneegirl
14 years ago
Sounds as though you have found some peace as well. So very happy that you found the bench - the story behind it makes it even more special.
trinitytx
14 years ago
It is just perfect. There is nothing more that I can say....it was meant for you two.

Hugs,
Trin
mcmann
14 years ago
Well it was meant to be. You were in the right place, right time, right price and delivered to your home too. How wonderful that it all came together for you.
grinch_gut
14 years ago
That is soo cool CB!! I am happy you are starting to find joy! Stacy
maryanntx
14 years ago
It's beautiful and perfect!
Mystical Manns
14 years ago
Yes, that is definitely perfect. You were so right not to accept the others, and to keep looking. Isn't it amazing sometimes how things work out? I'm so glad it's given you pleasure, and that you REALIZE it! That's a blessing in itself!
alisande
14 years ago
That's beautiful! And yes, I'm sure you were led to it. In fact, I would go so far as to say your husband may have picked it out himself.
bee0hio
14 years ago
Very very pretty bench & it is wonderful for you to feel happiness again.
mrsmarv
14 years ago
Brenda, that bench is perfect. Ronnie is looking over you every waking moment and he will love it. I am so glad you are letting happiness in ;o)

(((Nora)))
zeetera
14 years ago
A touching story, and the bench is beautiful. Funny how things jump out at you at the right time.
molly109
14 years ago
Oh Wow - it is a beautiful bench, and it found you.

Hugs.
nodakgal
14 years ago
I love it!
I'm so glad you were able to get it and get it home.
Toni S
14 years ago
It's very pretty and a perfect price. It was meant to be yours.
Granlan_TX
14 years ago
It was meant to be, Country, and I'm glad this has brought you a happy heart. :)
lindaohnowga
14 years ago
Brenda, that bench is beautiful and yes, perfect too. I also think Ronnie led you to it.
lydia1959
14 years ago
Beautiful bench!! I think it was meant to be too!
grammahony
14 years ago
I'm glad you finally found the bench Brenda. It was meant to be. I love the bench. So fitting because you both loved and waited for the hummingbirds together. It just made your heart a little lighter.
Leslie
foggyj
14 years ago
I love to hear stories like yours. It reinforces my belief. That bench coming to you, is more than a co-incidence. Glad you can smile again.
itsmesuzq
14 years ago
What a beautiful story CB. The bench is so pretty and it sounds like it was made especially for you. You deserve every smile it brings. Breathe deep and enjoy the the days ahead.

Susan
gardenspice
14 years ago
Sounds like the bench found you. This is a great reminder that sometimes we have to just be patient and things fall into place. Thanks for sharing your story!
pauline13
14 years ago
That's a great story and a beautiful bench! I can't believe you got it at such a good price.
liira
14 years ago
Dragonflies have become special to our family after the death of my nephew. Now, whenever we see anything with a dragonfly on it, especially in weird places we think its Tyler's way of saying he's with us. One day I was eating lunch outside and a dragonfly landed on my skirt and stayed there the whole afternoon. I was able to walk back to the office with him still attached.
susanjf_gw
14 years ago
country..take the time to seal the concrete before taking it out...you can get the stuff at the local hardware...

it's lovely piece and i hope you get comfort and smile everytime you see it...
country_bumpkin_al
Original Author
14 years ago
Here's the Story of the Dragonfly for those that might not know it. The tattoo I got back in April is my Memorial Tattoo and I got the idea from this little story.

The Dragonfly

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water
under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle
in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple
and comfortable life in the pond with few
disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community
when one of their fellow beetles would climb
the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again.
They knew when this happened; their friend was dead,
gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt
an irresistible urge to climb up that stem.
However, he was determined that he would not leave forever.
He would come back and tell his friends
what he had found at the top.
When he reached the top and climbed out of the water
onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired,
and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap.

As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up,
he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly
with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty
of a whole new world and a far superior way of life
to what he had never known existed.
Then he remembered his beetle friends
and how they were thinking by now he was dead.
He wanted to go back to tell them,
and explain to them that he was now more alive
than he had ever been before.
His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water.
He could not get back to tell his friends the good news.
Then he understood that their time would come,
when they, too, would know what he now knew.
So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!
marilyn_c
14 years ago
Brought tears to my eyes. So glad you found the bench. Yes, I think you were lead to it also. Sometimes things just work out perfectly.
des_arc_ya_ya
14 years ago
((Bump)) I love the bench. Glad that you found just the right one.
mariend
14 years ago
Beatiful bench. Love it as I too love nature-flower, birds, etc. I am sure it brings back those good memories.
socks
14 years ago
That's just great. I can tell how happy you are by the tone of your post. It is a really, really pretty bench.
Kathsgrdn
14 years ago
The bench is beautiful. Glad you found it and it made you so happy.
caflowerluver
14 years ago
It's beautiful and so glad you found your perfect bench.
Clare
kathi_mdgd
14 years ago
So glad you found it and that it brings you so much joy.It was definately a "Meant to be".
Kathi
patti43
14 years ago
The bench is beautiful and I'm so glad it made you happy. Sure looks like more $$$ than that.
sue_va
14 years ago
I waited to post here hoping you would include the Dragonfly story. I had not ever seen it before. It is beautiful.

Your bench is beautiful, too. Some things are definitely worth waiting for, including the bench and the story.

I will save the story.

Sue
sandy_in_ia
14 years ago
What a beautiful bench and a wonderful story!!! There are always things that are "Meant To Be's"
hayjud_mn
14 years ago
CB, I'm so glad you found that perfect bench. It had to be a special blessing from above.

I so enjoyed hearing about this wonderful find.

(Pic)Sometimes You Find Something That is So Perfect..It's Weird!

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