Unfortunately, my next door neighbor had to go into a nursing home because her alzheimer's had progressed to a point where it wasn't safe for her to be in her home any longer. Her husband had passed away a couple of years ago and her disease progressed rapidly once he was gone. They did not have any children to help take care of them. She had some nieces that she was very close to and they decided to put her in a home. Then after two years they decided to sell her home.
I felt sad about all of this, "A" was a lovely lady, and she used to pop over all the time! I also felt sad because her nieces never mentioned any of this to us - putting her in a nursing home or selling her home. What they did was bring in a giant dumpster and empty the contents of her home into it.
My husband happened to notice her husbands snowblower shield (about a $200.00 item) in the dumpster, being curious he did a little "dumpster diving" for himself. My husband loves to recycle, and he is now the proud owner of a snowblower shield!
In a few days I'll post the happy face of the recipient of a bundt cake made in this pan!
No, it won't be "A" but she was very happy!!!
I am glad that you have that treasure but sad at the way her life is ending. I suppose they are selling the house to support her in the nursing home. Health care like that is not cheap. But, to just throw that stuff away---well, what are they thinking? In the end, it comes down to our life being a bunch of disposable "stuff"...kind of bittersweet. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteWay to go! One person's trash in another's treasure. How nice that you have fond memories of your neighbor.
ReplyDeleteSam
sad to hear the way this played out but i am so happy the pan ended up with you! i am sure your neighbor would be happy too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you now own this pan. You will make loads of cakes and make lots of people feel special when you present them with your baked goodies.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you have such a treasure to remember your friend by. And it is a lesson to all of us to remember that one person's trash is another's treasure. It is too bad that the nieces and nephews didn't chat with the neighbors about their aunt.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad that someone's life ends up in a dumpster. I'm happy that at least a few things were salvaged for people who appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you will think about your friend every time you bake in this. As Diana said...kind of bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteYou most definitely discovered a treasure. I hope you will find many years of happy baking.
ReplyDeleteVelva
it astounds me...ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDS me...what folks throw away! It's crazy! why not put it on the sidewalk with a FREE sign? evidently, they've never had hard times but when they come (and they generally come), chances are they won't be strong enough to withstand the onslaught.
ReplyDeleteA lovely story with a lovely ending. Can't wait to see the cake!
ReplyDeleteA bittersweet story in so many ways and so often happening these days!
ReplyDeleteStill, when a door closes, God opens a window...Wishes do come true!
Happy baking!
P.S. I have a feeling your neighbour would have loved to give you that pan insteadt of seeing it discarded (as her family saw fit to do!)
God bless,
I'm sure "A" would be happy to know her pan has found a good home:) looking forward to seeing what you make!
ReplyDeleteSo sad, but I know your neighbor would be happy that you are taking care of her cake pan! And I know that you'll bring a smile to someone's face with the cakes you make in it. :)
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how glad I am that you have that nice woman's bundt pan!
ReplyDeleteWhat in the world are people thinking, just throwing away treasured things, that could be equally treasured by someone else?
How wasteful to throw away all the household items. With a little effort they could have found new homes for her stuff. Glad you rescued the cake pan.
ReplyDeleteyou have to wonder how much money they threw away that could have gone to her care.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see who got the can and hear about how good it was.
Cathy
How sad that a lifetime's worth of treasures are being tossed willy-nilly into a dumpster. I think you were meant to have that pan, and "A" would be delighted that you'll be using it, and remembering her with every cake you bake in it.
ReplyDeleteWow, incredibly sad that her family did care to go through her possessions as if her life meant nothing to them. I am sure she baked some very nice cakes for her family members in that pan.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your husband is a picker so he could rescue the pan for you. Now you can carry on the tradition.
What a treasure that pan is, Mary! My favorite cakes are bundt cakes and I have a whole pinterest board devoted to them :)
ReplyDeleteI felt very sad to read this about your neighbor. It is always sad to see a wonderful, productive person's life end this way, and all their possessions thoughtlessly discarded. I know the stress of having to empty a full household, as I had to do it for my Mom's house of 60 years when she passed away. After my siblings and I divided up what we wanted to keep to remember her by, we had an estate sale, and I felt better that others would now enjoy her life's treasures. What was left, that was usable, we donated to charity. It was a lot of work, and very sad, but so much better than a dumpster!
What a story ... happy and sad ... happy for your 'new' old pan and that your friend is in a safe place, but sad to see a life's possessions and lifestyle cast to the dumpster. I have a young friend who bemoans the way our society casts things aside so often without considering the excellent design and continued use that older machines, utensils, cookware, etc etc have! Just go to any flea market and you see so many useful things that have
ReplyDeletefallen by the wayside!
Can't wait to see the cake that comes from this old beauty, Mary!
Oh such as sad post, but I am glad your salvaged the an to remember her by and I am sure she would be pleased you have it.
ReplyDeleteBake a bundt cake and take it to the nursing home, that would be sweet. Or just bake it in her memory. I have an antique bundt pan I have never used, I just like the cuteness of it's shape.
ReplyDeleteSo good not to let such perfectly fine things go to waste. Odd that the nieces never thought of talking to the neighbours; they could have offered them to go through the items that were not needed anymore and either give them away or ask a few dollars.
ReplyDeleteWhat a Lovely end to a sad time... How wonderful that you have this treasure to remember your Dear frend by... Can't wait to see what you make too!!!
ReplyDeleteI know that she would be thrilled that you saved the pan from the dump. It is a nice way to remember her every time that you use the pan.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you were able to rescue the pan and have a remembrance of her! Gosh, those nieces sure were lazy about throwing things away like that. There are estate companies that could sell the belongings.
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