A message to the community...

Donna Vix: Being thankful in the midst of disappointment and pain

Tue, 11/25/2014 - 8:15am

It is said that in all things, we should be thankful. Sometimes, that's a really difficult order to follow.

Remembering that something good always seems to come out of everything bad helps make it a little easier though.

Our family moved here from New Jersey for a new beginning. We had both lost beloved spouses much too soon, when our children were very young. Because the youngest two were only 5 and 9 when we got married, my husband changed his name to the children's for their sake. I had a successful dental practice that I closed and in our delusions, we thought that opening a store here would give us more time with the children. Boy, were we ever wrong.

We made so many mistakes and in retrospect, it's tough not to wonder how we could have been so wrong about so many things — especially at our age. We named the store Twice Upon A Dream and many people thought it meant used items, but in reality, it means "twice" blessed.

We are blessed — in so many ways. Right now, it hurts thinking about many of our circumstances and it's hard not to think about them. We still have not sold our home in New Jersey, health issues (that are minor in comparison to what many people are dealing with), difficult things that came about because of our efforts to help others, having created enough debt to put our daughter through college at a private school and more. However, had we not made the mistake of opening the store, there are many, many lovely, kind and considerate people we most probably never would have met.

We set out to inspire others and instead, it is they who have inspired us.

Since moving to Maine, for several reasons, holidays have not been what we'd hoped for and this Thanksgiving won't be any different. In every one of these sad thoughts however, there is a good memory.

One that comes to mind immediately is the dinner that a teacher made for us when we had to be working in the store and on the Facebook page that our landlord set up for us in an effort to help the store. There have been a few people who have come into the store and poured salt on the wound when even at a loss, the price was not good enough for them. 

However, there is also the woman who came in this week. We just met her and seeing how overwhelmed we were, she took off her coat to help us and returned again today. We may be stressed and overwhelmed right now with closing the store, but we know that "this too shall pass" and when it does, we will have more time to spend with our children and the new friends we've met.

Even if we never get to see them again, the angels who entered our door will always be remembered and like a beautiful flower, we will be reminded of them when we smell something pretty or see a bouquet or beautiful garden. We still have a few days left to meet more of these angels, but for this Thanksgiving, we will be grateful for the ones who have already touched our hearts with their kindness and beautiful smiles.

If you are one of them, please know that you have been a blessing and we are grateful more than mere words can express.

Donna Marie Vix lives in Camden and owns and operates Twice Upon a Dream on Elm Street.