The sign read: "No public restrooms." It was the second to last day of our family vacation, which happened to unexpectantly double as our honeymoon. Just two weeks prior, we were standing on the altar of a small chapel, just eight days after we decided to get married, right now. Shotgun wedding and a honeymoon with the whole family - why not; unplanned and unexpected usually resulted in the best outcomes for us.
Tennessee, to me, was always a state somewhere on a map I was forced to study in Middle School. A state with no significance to me, never having a desire to visit. Now, I had just spent the past seven days in a beautiful cabin nestled at the very top of the Smokey Mountains. Bungee jumping, check! Gem mining, check! Married, first-class passenger of the Titanic, I survived! Southern hospitality with flavorful meals, sign me up with cocktails, please! Having spent each morning on our bedroom porch, watching the fog rise off of the tip of trees, listening to the wildlife scatter - I knew this was MY place!
Arriving at the flea market was similar to pulling into the parking lot at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland. Flea markets up north are tailgating garage sales with one or two tables. The fancier markets display a 10x10 tent that shields the tables and tourists from the sun and weather. What I was staring at was not that! My view was dozens of lanes of parked vehicles, with miles of different colored tents. The air smelled sweet with hints of fried food, just like an amusement park does. My ears honed in on an acoustic guitar paired with a raspy twang. A child-like excitement filled my stomach with butterflies, unable to walk fast enough to reach the entry point. What gems are hidden inside these colorful tents? What will I find that someone views as trash, but to me would be a treasure? Do I have enough cash? Do they have an ATM here? Standing quiet in a single file line, you would never know my mind was a flashcard deck of questions.
Yes, finally we entered! My husband turned around, looked at me, and said: "Where do you want to start?". My response: "The bathroom, I have to pee!". "Really?!" he responded. As we zig-zagged through crowds of people, bouncing from one tent corner to another, each sign we encountered read: "No public restrooms". I stopped for a moment, took a deep breath asking myself, can I hold it? It was right then that I saw her! A feisty little teacup puppy jumping and ripping her little stuffed toy. She was little and bouncy. She was playful and spunky. She was my gem, she was why I was meant to come to this flea market! My husband whispered in my ear behind me, "No, Amanda - Nico would eat her." Nico was our American Bulldog/Pit mix. Nico was my husband's best friend and my bonus furbaby. I didn't listen, I begged and pleaded and used every trick in the book. Puppy dog eyes, on full display. Batting my eyelashes, yes and I had falsies on so that gave an added effect. "Please, but it's our Honeymoon." I whimpered. HE CAVED!. "Ok, we can get her!". Just like that, we adopted our little girl from Tennessee, Lola Bear Marie". At first sight, I knew this was MY girl!
The rest of the day was a blur. My husband bought her, my sister-in-law named her, but she was all mine! I held my little Lola all day, and we both found a wooded area to hide and pee (finally). We returned to our cabin and watched her run around curiously. She pounced on Nico and he was equally as excited to have a new friend, a sister. "See, he didn't eat her, he loves her!"- I said. The wife was right, husband wrong! We snuggled into our warm beds that evening, placed her in a comfortable portable carrier we had purchased, and drifted off to sleep. Or, so I thought. Lola cried ALL NIGHT LONG! I had never adopted a puppy, so I was not aware that the first few nights are rough. I was also unaware that puppies are dewormed and for the first few weeks you might notice white worms in their poop. That was it, I was mortified and taking her back! I can deal with whimpering but worms, nope no way, count me out! Thankfully, my brother-in-law was an animal lover and refused to return Lola. To him, she was already a part of the family, and no matter whom she went home with, she was now ours!
Fast forward ten years to today, she did stop whimpering and pooping worms. She also happens to be much more than a gem, she has become the pure diamond of our family. Definitely not a teacup puppy though. She grew, grew, and grew some more! Turns out, she is half Chihuahua and half Miniature Pinscher (I guess that is expected when you purchase a puppy at a flea market). We couldn't love her more!
Each day, as I reflect back on our Tennessee trip, and drift to sleep with my little Lola girl, I have realized that I not only have brought something home from that trip, but I also left something there - roots! Tennessee became my place, where the unexpected and unplanned gave us blessed outcomes. We have not returned yet, but when we do - it will be for good!
About the Creator
Amanda Marks
Words & People are my superpowers! Empowered to inspire & heal others through creativity!
Professionally experienced in corporate & non-profit human services turned Inspirational Social Marketer, Freelance Writer, and Poet.
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The Aura Within
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By Amanda Marks4 years ago in Fiction
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