I’ll take a little love to go please…

Lamell Lewis is the owner of the happiest place on the mountain.  My happy place.  Lamell helped me to overcome the depression that threatened to destroy me when I moved to this small town by offering the most glorious antiques and collectibles I’ve used to personalize my home and make it my own.

I love going to Lamell’s.

So when he retired two years ago, auctioning off all of his wares, I was bummed to say the least.

But then the heavens parted and the sun shone down, bringing joy to my broken heart.  Lamell came back!

Going to Lamell’s has become one of my favorite birthday traditions.  Each year on or near my birthday Rick gifts me a wad of cash, takes me to Lamell’s and says, “Be free my little hoarder.  Be free.”

Only he doesn’t really call me a hoarder because I’m not a hoarder. Not really.  Which is why I do not now own this amazing dresser found on this years birthday trip.

I wish I owned it–wish I could see it everyday–because when we met, this dresser and I, the energy between us was overwhelming.

“I’ve seen that smile somewhere before, I’ve heard that voice before, It seems we’ve talked like this before.”

That type of energy comes from some sort of nostalgic connection and when I feel it I know I’ll love and cherish that item FOREVER.

My house is sprinkled with forever items that make my heart smile.

But because I’m not a hoarder–not really–and I don’t have a place in my home for the forever dresser, we parted ways, agreeing to hold each other always in our memories.

I’m currently learning to separate myself from ego, participating in daily exercises to help me accomplish this.  Two recent exercises required me to look around and say this:

1. Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.

2. I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning that it has for me.

Reflecting on these exercises made me realize that I gave the forever dresser (and all of my things) meaning.  I gave it meaning because of how it made me feel.  It made me feel happy because it reminded me of my grandparents’ home and my grandparents’ home was always a happy place.

I gave it meaning because it represented love.

I am not what I see in this room [on this street, from this window (in this mirror) in this place] I am love.

But I’ll still keep visiting Lamell’s, even though I’m not a hoarder.  Not really.

Because love lives there.