Lee's Letter from June 2009

june 2009

the month of June means many things to me...and it has nothing to do with antiques...so this month's letter is going to be a personal one.

7 years ago my life changed dramatically. i rushed my father to the hospital on april 15th (after I ran by the post office to mail my tax papers). my father was the person that i held the most respect and admired the most in my life. he taught me about people, that we all are the same, no matter our looks, our financial aspects or our past, that we all are loved by God and seen as equals in his eyes. my dad was always very healthy, so his passing on june 2 was a shock to my family. i closed my store in my hometown while he was in the hospital so that i could be with him as much as possible.

i had become engaged to my husband, todd in February, and we were to be married on june 5th. my daughter was graduating from 8th grade in may. i had sold my home, was going to move my business, get married, and move to oklahoma city. life couldn't have been more hectic. all plans halted due to daddy's death. Instead of planning a wedding, we began planning a funeral.

todd and i eventually got married later in the month, but had a very low key wedding due to the circumstances. my daughter and i moved to oklahoma city and we began our new life as a new family in a new city.

we sold todd's home and bought a home of our own. my daughter began high school and life started again.

my daughter will now be a senior in college, and i often think of how she's become a beautiful young woman since my father last saw her in the 8th grade. my new life is a happy one due to my happiness here in this city and because of my wonderful husband, daughter and my business. i was very comfortable in my old community, very involved, my entire family was there, and i knew not one person in oklahoma city. i now have a great life with wonderful customers who are my friends. i want to thank all of you for being such great people in my life. You have made my business a place where friends are like family,just like in my hometown. oklahoma city is like a small town in so many ways, and I now consider oklahoma city my home.

my dear father is gone, but always with me. last june, my sweet little yorkie, duchess passed away. she had been a part of my store for 15 years. many of you knew her. now many of you know norman.

june has many hard feelings for me, but also good ones. It is a month that many happy things came to an end, and when many new beginnings started. i thank you all for making my home here in oklahoma city a real home for me and my family, and my business.

see you soon,

lee