Following the death of my mother and my brother-in-law in October 2018, I drove to my sister and brother-in-law’s winter home on Dauphin Island. My sister was grieving both losses so close together and I was her support, though grieving my mother as well. We drove from Ontario, Canada with her two dogs, one of whom was diagnosed with terminal cancer during our stay in Alabama. More sadness for her. We always took the dogs for a walk in the Audubon Bird Sanctuary or on the beaches, but because her Bernese Mountain Dog, Bernie, had cancer tumours on his leg we couldn’t take him for that kind of walk anymore. It was upsetting for so many reasons. One day, after several weeks on the Island, I went for a long walk along Bienville Blvd contemplating life and loss and feeling rather alone in the world. The quilted heart was hanging in a tree near the sidewalk. At first, I didn’t want to take it thinking I might be taking something that wasn’t mine. It took me awhile to realize that’s exactly what the message with the heart was telling me. Wow! I felt like I’d won the celestial lottery! I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I was tremendously cheered and was able to cheer my sister up with the story of finding the heart when I got back to the house. It’s taken me a couple of years to post this but better late than never. My neighbour had just revealed she makes quilted hearts so I told her about the one I found, and so here I am. My story of finding a quilted heart which now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. All the way from Dauphin Island. Quite a journey.
