Don't Be Shy!

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A Quilter's Heartbreak...

As a quilter, I pour my heart and soul into EVERY project that I do. Whether that quilt is for charity, a wedding gift, baby gift, or just cuz someone asked me to make them a quilt...every quilt I make and quilt has a lot of my heart and soul in it. So, as much as I have let my sadness get over the following story, when I saw these 2 pictures tonight, a bit of me hurt. Here is the story:

My oldest son has always given my husband and myself headaches, many of them MAJOR headaches. He got himself involved in smoking pot in college and was kicked out after his freshman year. After cleaning up that act, he got addicted to the casinos in MN. He kicked that habit and moved in with us here in KS. He worked hard to get his feet on the ground and moved out. Life was GOOD!!! He had found the 4 panels in this quilt on ebay and asked if I would make him a quilt for his bed. I said I would when he was independent and lived that way for 6 months. He accomplished that and I was true to my word. Here are 2 pics of that quilt.


Fast forward to about 4 months later, a HUGE problem with alcohol, loss of a job (due to the alcohol keeping him in bed), and an EVICTION! *sigh* The problem with the eviction was that I didn't know about it right away. Instead of our son coming to us for help, he kept it to himself, was living in his car, and obviously not making ends meet, and becoming more depressed. After finding out about his eviction I called the apartment complex and asked if his posessions were still in the apartment. NOPE...it had been cleaned out 3 days before. I asked if they could find 2 quilts for me and they said all possessions were THROWN out! OMG...someone would NOT throw out the quilts I poured my heart and soul into would they????? Yes, supposedly they would...but I truly believe someone has this quilt along with my oldest's tshirt quilt that I made him for his HS graduation. That quilt being gone bothers me the most because I can't reproduce it. Those tshirts can't be found again...a tough lesson learned for him. (I can't find a pic of that quilt either)
I asked him why he didn't grab those quilts and he said he was awakened by the sheriff and told he had 15 mins to get out. He was in a drunken stupor and thought he'd be let back in to get his possessions. I have never told him how I feel about the quilts...I don't have to...he knows how much I love this craft and he also loves what I have done for him.
IF I ever make him another quilt, he'll have to be self sufficient for 30 years. I pray that the day will come and he gets that quilt. He's a great kid, just made a lot of stupid choices. BTW...he's been alcohol free for 10 months now! I guess there is hope! If you are of the praying kind, ask God to watch over that one please! :oD

7 comments:

Becky said...

Thank you for sharing that. Sometimes it helps the hurt to get it out.

Rose said...

Ten months is doing good! I will say pray for him...

country mouse said...

So sorry that those quilts are gone. We do put so much time, care, and effort into them. I am happy to hear that your son is 10 months sober. I will say a prayer for him, and one for you too :)

jacquie said...

Thoughts and prayers with you and your son. I know this must have been hard to share. I hoped it helped in a small way.

Barb said...

Sending (((((((((HUGS)))))))) and prayers your way Laurie! Your patience and love have brought him thru so much! Your blog entry is heartbreaking for sure, your continued love will somehow soften the pain! I admire the strength it took to share all of this! H/LY

Ellen said...

You know I am the 'praying kind', and will continue to pray for your Joe!
Thanks for visiting my blog today....fun new venture!!

Mary Johnson said...

I'm glad your son is doing better but I know it must be hard to watch him make mistakes and hoping each time that he'll finally pull it all together.

How sad that your son has lost those quilts forever. I'm sorry for you and all the work and love that went into them and for him - that he lost something so valuable.

My sons have used some of theirs pretty hard but they still have them. Chris used to pack all of his in his car when he came home from college for the weekend so his roomates wouldn't go into his room and borrow them while he was gone.