Another Emotional Anniversary Without Michael and A New Mixer
Wedding Anniversary
by Melinda Campbell-Reflections from the Kitchen Sink
(Melinda’s husband Michael was killed by a drunk driver in 2015)
I think today is a good day to share the story of my new-to-me mixer. A few weeks ago, I spotted a snazzy one at Sam’s and posted a request for folks to keep their eyes out for specials. (We all know how I am about being thrifty and such lol!) With the holidays approaching, I decided maybe I would up my meal game some. We are on our own little island here, but I need to get back to some of the traditions I had before we became the party of three. I’m sure any leftovers will be swooped up by my extra kiddos at some point anyway. …so the rest of the story…It was probably ten years ago I decided I wanted to become a domestic goddess—you can laugh later—and that a KitchenAid mixer would help me do that.
Michael purchased one for me for my birthday. For lots of reasons, the mixer got slid to the back of the kitchen cupboard when life took a couple turns. In a strange little twist of events, I loaned the mixer to a friend while she was in America, and somehow the mixer got lost in the shuffle of things being returned to folks after my friend went back to her missions work overseas. I was obviously disappointed as it had been a gift from Michael, but stuff happens.
After my traumatic life experiences, something like that is not something that’s going to get me twisted. …so back to my post… Several acquaintances responded to my post with suggestions, but one friend went a step further and did a Marketplace search. She sent me a pic of one that was just like the one at Sam’s at half the price! The ad said the mixer was basically new. I thought, “Okay, I will bite and message.” That’s when things got a little crazy. I didn’t notice the seller’s name until I hit the generic interest button: Michael Campbell.
Oh, my gracious. I will admit, my breath was taken for a moment. I got a little teary. I don’t believe in extra layers of the afterlife, but the coincidence of it all was pretty overwhelming for a moment or two. The Campbell on the other end of cyberspace and I chatted for a bit, and I decided I wanted the mixer and began making arrangements to pick it up. The final hurrah of this moment is that my friend who located the mixer for me offered to manage the meet up as I live over an hour away from where the mixer used to reside. When I went to pickup the fancy-schmancy machine from my friend, she insisted it was a gift, and I started crying…just like I am now remembering that moment.
I told her I felt it was almost an anniversary gift since my would’ve been #25 was right around the corner. She just let me have my crazy lady in her feelings moment. Sweet blessings. Sweet friends with huge hearts who have no clue really how special their efforts are when you’re on your own after years of not being. I usually have plenty of words and can be pretty precise with my explanations, but some things can’t be described with words. This is one of them…even though I’ve tried.
Michael had a thing about celebrating the day before actual events, so this morning, I would have been met with a “happy day before our anniversary” greeting. As I lean on my kitchen sink looking at mixer on the counter across from me, that phrasing seems to fit my heart’s pull today. (It’s okay to acknowledge and celebrate important days by the way.) …now for one more cup of coffee and a drying of the tears before I wake the boys for church. I may even start that mixer goodies grocery list…
#thatwasalittlecrazy#shew#breathe#cherishthememories#friends#celebrate#rememberthegood#coffeetime#prayertime#reflectionsfromthekitchensink
Melinda Campbell – All Reflections from the Kitchen Sink posts are written by Melinda Campbell. Melinda is a retired educator who currently focuses her efforts on raising her two teenaged boys, advocating for individuals with special needs and against drunk driving, and serving in her local community. New Kitchen Sink Merchandise-Click Here
