I really lucked out...
@BearArtistLady (5382)
United States
May 22, 2018 10:46am CST
I've mentioned Bill many times in my posts. He is a really wonderful man! If it weren't for the fact that I would lose so much financially we would legally marry. We exchanged vows on a neighbors deck on July 5th 2013. It was a wonderful ceremony and the few people that were there were really good friends of ours. Since then Bill and I have been like husband and wife. The only difference was that until October 2nd of last year we lived in separate houses. October 2nd is when my home burned down and when Bill invited me to live with him, and within a couple of months he told me even if I were to rebuild he didn't want me to leave. So we are now living together spoiling each other like crazy.
I brought all that up because last week I received a card from my favorite fabric store that it is going out of business. I really wanted to go to the going out of business sale, but I didn't want to make Bill drive all that way (my car was destroyed in the fire, and I am still waiting for some sort of settlement from the power company that started the fire). Yesterday Bill got up like he usually does, had his breakfast, and then got out his going to town stuff. He went into the bedroom and got out his going to town clothes then went into the bathroom to shave and get ready to go. Of course when he goes to town he expects me to go along, so I went in and changed into going to town clothes and got myself ready. We piled in the car and off we went. I figured we were just going to "town". The store that was going out of business was over 75 miles away. We got to the turn off that was a short cut to the fabric store and Bill asked me if I needed a Starbucks to get me to the fabric store...my heart skipped several beats! We were going to the going out of business sale! He was spoiling me again!!!! Even though I would have loved a Starbucks, I said no simply because I didn't want him driving that much more! And off we went to the sale!
I scored the ultra suede (fake suede leather) that I use for paws and soles for bears, fake fur for bears, the thread that I prefer to use for sewing the bears together, and an antique horse that I can put in my booth space for sale. Then Bill took me to the other fabric place that I had been wanting to go to and I was able to pick up needles that I needed and another piece of bear making fabric...and some quality single edged razor blades that I use for cutting out bear parts out of the fake fur. What I had been using would become dull after a couple of cuts into the fake fur. The new blades should last me for cutting out two or three whole bears rather than just an arm or leg piece.
On the way home we stopped and had the best pizza! Then we stopped at one of our specialty grocery stores and then headed home. We fed our community cats and had a piece of pie and then it was off to bed. It didn't take long for either of us to fall asleep!
I'm sitting here this morning feeling like a spoiled princess (without the billion dollar wedding 
) and thinking about breakfast and then getting to work on the bear and kitty combination that I am making to donate to one of our local humane societies. I just had to share how wonderful Bill was and how he spoiled me yesterday!
) and thinking about breakfast and then getting to work on the bear and kitty combination that I am making to donate to one of our local humane societies. I just had to share how wonderful Bill was and how he spoiled me yesterday!6 people like this
8 responses
@Friendlypink (3805)
•
22 May 18
Lucky you. And I am happy for you that you got to go to the sale.
3 people like this
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
22 May 18
I kept the sale a secret because I didn't want Bill to know about it and spend all that time driving me down. I left the card out on my craft table and he read it and the next thing I knew we were on our way. Bill is such a great guy! I wish all women could have a "Bill" in their lives! 
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
27 May 18
We do have our moments like all couples. But we talk the problems out and come up with solutions that are mutually agreed upon. Like planting a few squash along the hillside between Bill's house and his upper parking area. And then there is my storing some of the bear making supplies on his deck. We're going to be moving it up to his second storage shed as soon as he makes room for it. Until then I plan to put it in the covered area between the sheds. The biggest discussion will be about the sewing machine I am bidding on on Ebay. It's an embroidery machine like the ones I lost in the fires only a newer version. The sewing machines that I received from the neighbors are all just plain sewing machines which are great but they don't do a lot of the fancy sewing that I use for the outfits for the dressed teddy bears. Bill doesn't quite understand the need for a sewing machine that does embroidery and fancy stitches so I am going to have to explain to him about the need for the fancy stitching and the embroidery work that the machine I am bidding on has. I hope he will understand fully when I finish. We don't have to have these serious conversations too often, but when we do we don't allow ourselves to get upset over what is said during the conversation. We don't get personal and we don't call each other names. We treat each other with respect and love and our relationship has worked out wonderfully! Neither of us feels that we are better than anyone in our lives, including each other, so we do get along so much better with not only each other but with friends and neighbors too. Bill has been a true blessing from the moment I met him but an even bigger blessing from the fire on. Especially when I was diagnosed with PTSD and we both are dealing with the issues that arise from dealing with the issues that arise from that disease. it's horrible to deal with! Especially if your the person dealing with the problem!!!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26182)
• Singapore
28 May 18
@BearArtistLady Many fail to accept others as who they are and want them to do their bidding.
Then the relationship is not on from the start.
My take has been to help when I can.
Giving each other space will set us on a firm footing and an equal partnership.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses - siva
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
28 May 18
@Shiva49 Fortunately Bill and I learned about our weaknesses and strengths during the 17 years that we went together. We spent a lot of time together learning from each other and teaching each other and having a LOT of fun together. We have a wonderful partnership that is built on acceptance on our strengths and weaknesses and new weaknesses that have recently developed from the fire. I recently developed PTSD from the trauma of watching my home burn down, and Bill has been by my side the entire time holding me up and supporting me and being my guide and support the entire time. I couldn't ask for a better man to be by my side! Each night I go to sleep thanking God for bringing us together, and each morning I thank God for giving us another day together. Bill does the same thing! Bill has accepted the fact that I have the mental problem caused by the fire and that it will take time for it to become totally controlled. He also accepts the fact that it doesn't take much for me to have the PTSD to be triggered and that I will need him there to help me control my tears and emotions. He is there to give me the necessary hugs and support. I was lucky that we found each other and that we accepted each other for who and what we are. I couldn't love a man as much as I love Bill! And there is no way in the world that I would EVER look for another man as my heart belongs to Bill and always will.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58082)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
22 May 18
@BearArtistLady You can apply for dissablity as a married person.
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
23 May 18
@thislittlepennyearns The other obstacle is Bill's daughter by his deceased wife. We are finally starting to get along and I don't want her thinking that my only reason for being with Bill is for his money. It's the furthest thing from the truth, but things are going great the way they are right now. As I learned long ago, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". We're both blissfully happy the way things are right now. Maybe later when the paperwork from the house burning down is done and over with....
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
22 May 18
I am lucky in so many ways, the luckiest part of my life is having Bill in the first place!!! I couldn't have found a better man! He is so sweet and so cute. Especially when he takes the lint roller to me when I'm all over "bear hair". He will roll the hair off me for as long as it takes so that I don't leak hair into our dinner...and he'll talk to me while he rolls the hair off, things like "there's a big patch here" or "I missed a patch here" or "stand really still, this patch is apt to move around. It's so sweet and so cute!
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
22 May 18
@BearArtistLady Wow!!! Hehehe!!! He's so sweet..
Teach me how to find a good man like him, hehehe!!! I will start to find soon.
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
22 May 18
I am happy for you, Toni. Small things mean a lot and when you combine them together, they become priceless memories. Bill is such a sweet and kind hearted man. Both of you are blessed to have each other.
