Dianne's "Must Have It" Weekend

I would like to think I'm not the only person on earth who lay awake at night thinking about something they have stumbled across..accidentally, of course, in a shop. This particular shop is in a small town..on the shores of a lake and on sunny summer Sundays is packed with yuppie tourists out 'slumming' and shopping for 'priceless antiques' to put in their over priced..over mortgaged homes..in the best neighborhoods. You can find any and everything your heart desires there...authentic Amish hand made quilts, (made, of course, by two women who live on the hill and have been life long partners, but we don't tell the shoppers that), over priced food, collectibles that give you sticker shock..that is, until you find the 'Made in China' stamp, or realize the paint is still a little tacky, and cutesy garden ornaments, that I'm sure I just saw at Wal Mart last week. In the midst of this madness is a small establishment..at the end of a side street..off the beaten path. We discovered it as we were going back to the car to get out of there..my husband had had enough ..there were no Used Car Dealers or Motor Cycle lots, there for, there was no reason to stay any longer than necessary. As he was frantically trying to get the key into the ignition, I said "STOP !!!"..I gotta check this out!!! As the blood was draining from his face, I quickly headed toward the entrance. I walked through the door and immediately stopped dead in my tracks..it took several minuets for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and when they did..the treasures appeared..on shelves..on the walls..hanging from the ceiling..on the floor..in every corner..on and piled under tables. A sign posted on the counter proclaimed "EVERY THING HALF PRICE' As I stumbled through the narrow aisles..looking at things piled on top of other things and going through boxes..I spotted it..there she was..looking down at me from the highest shelf in the shop. I tried to ignore her..kept turning my back on her..pretending she was not really there. I eventually picked out a couple small items..went to the checkout to pay and had to ask the proprietor about what had caught my eye on the shelf. He carefully took her down and laid her in my hands. We immediately bonded..but knowing my husband was waiting in the car, I decided I really didn't need her..paid for my items and left. Now, keep in mind this happened over a year ago. Four weeks ago we find ourselves back, not by my husbands choice, and I make a mad dash for the checkout looking desperately for her..she's not there! I can't see her anywhere..the proprietor, seeing my desperation, asks if he can help. When I tell him what I'm looking for, he shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry..they are all gone..BUT..I'm expecting a shipment any day now"..heart broken, I leave my number..he says he will call as soon as they arrive..Sunday afternoon the call comes..I'm giddy..my husband, unaccustomed to seeing me giddy, decides we might just as well go and bring her home. When we get there..there she is..waiting for me..I pick her up..cradle her in my arms..tell her I'm happy to see her and, at last, bring her home. She now lives on my shelf..the most beautiful Mermaid I have ever seen..smiling down at me..of course I had to bring her sister along..she's on another shelf..and a strange statue of a really scary lady..and a figurine of the Statue of Liberty..etc., etc. etc.. I'm pretty sure the next time my husband decides we should go for a ride, it will be in the opposite direction..But who cares..I have my Mermaid and that's all that matters!!!!!!