In The Blink of an Eye

I always speak of Country Roads as a family. This family of mine includes many, many people. There are customers that have been shopping with me since the early days back in January of 1993 when we first opened. I have watched their kids grow-up just like mine. Then those kids get married, and they have children of their own. I sometimes forget just how large, after all these years, that my Country Roads really family is! While I use to talk to many of my customers about our kids, now we share conversation about our grandkids, and just life. We become friends, and those friendships I value so much. There is no way I can describe that. They have a big piece of my heart. And when something horrible happens, it hurts just like they are your own family. It really hurts, it knocks you right up the side of your head.

I just found one of my customers was shot to death by her husband.  Just writing that sentence is almost too much to type. Those words I just typed are difficult words to write, as the reality of this has not yet settled.  The wound has just been open, and not sure how fast this one will heal.  Her name will always be Faith Sieber to me, but she re-married not to long ago and changed her name to her new husbands last name, Bater. This morning her sister called the store because Faith was like the rest of us, she too always had a layaway going.  Thankfully, this is one time I'm glad I am sick and not at work. I'm not sure I could have handled the conversation and thankfully Brande was there to take the call. And I know that had to be tough for Brande, because like me, she had known this family forever as well. Faith would always come in with her Mom (who has had her own struggles), her sister, and sometimes her daughter and grandkids. We would chat about life, I would help her at times with my opinion on something she wanted to buy. When Faith was at the counter, it meant I "had" to visit with my friend. You know, we had to catch up! Especially after almost twenty years of a friendship that we shared. Usually, when Faith was finished shopping, it involved three things. A layaway pickup, new stuff she was buying that day, and a new layaway. She almost always bought plants as well. She lived in the mountains near Lake Arrowhead.  My last conversation with her was about how well her plants had been doing and she was trying to find a way to keep the deer from nibbling the plants. Always cheerful, always smiling and just a wonderful person. 

Faith had gotten married not to long ago. She had been a nurse at Arrowhead Regional Hospital up in the mountains and just retired.  As Katie said to me on the phone when she called to tell me what happened, "Mom, she was SO happy". All I could say was "I know". I will always remember Faith and her wonderful smile and laugh. I can grasp hold of death a bit better if it is from illness, but this one, I've gotta tell you has me baffled. I will miss you my friend. I think it's time we plant one of Johnnye Merle's plants in the garden in your honor. May love & peace be with you always!