Going to the Unemployment Office
For a while, Loren’s accident left him with little choice but to languish at home, distraught and completely broken, hoping to be able to return to some kind of work. In the end, he had no choice but to approach an unemployment office with a brave heart in the hopes of finding a job.
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Unfortunately, the talk went on to include some unpleasant questions about his abilities and why he’d lost his last job. Only when they saw that he had a metal prosthetic under the table did they understand the challenges he was facing.
Nobody To Offer Support
Loren’s lack of support was the most challenging part of the situation. Even his closest family members had forgotten about him, including his sister. As opposed to being a source of support or tender-loving care, those closest to him turned out to be a cause of additional grief.
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The only person Loren had a genuine connection with was his grandmother. Both were voracious readers, and he inherited her passion for literature from spending time with her. His grandmother told him she would give him all of her books one day, but his sister took that away from him when the old woman passed away.
A Football Star
In high school, Loren had been a football player, and he sought a career in athletics because of his height and weight. The nickname “Big LT” was given to him due to his imposing physique. In the end, he discovered that he had a natural flair for woodworking, which he explored further.
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After Loren finished high school, he began building a name for himself as a woodworker. As a contractor, he was employed by one of the local shops. All of his hard work and commitment paid off, and he was doing well for years before he had a setback.
Loren’s Family Conflict
Loren always acted peacefully and compassionately, which is why he devoted nearly all of his waking hours to the needs of others. A calm family was what he always wished for, but the only time he got to enjoy it was when he was visiting friends who had loving families.
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He noticed that in other families, siblings sometimes had some miscommunications, but they swiftly got over it. With his sister, it was a different story. She seemed to harbor a lot of jealousy and would go to great lengths to hurt Loren.
Loren’s Relationship With His Sister
After a series of conflicts, the two siblings were forced to sever their ties with one another. They only ever saw each other during unavoidable get-togethers, and their encounters often ended with a barrage of obscenities being directed at poor Loren.
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Loren’s sister expressed her dislike for her brother without apparent cause. She was more financially secure than he was, and she was married with children. It seemed that Loren’s sister had some deep resentment in her heart, and Loren didn’t understand what the source of it could be.
His Romantic Life
When Loren’s long-sought-after wishes were granted, he was filled with ecstasy and euphoria. After almost two years of owning his own business, he invited his girlfriend and her children to live with him in his house. He was able to enjoy the calm family life he’d always wanted, and he had a reason to be happy as he returned home each day.
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Although they were happy and delighted to be together, the two of them couldn’t raise enough money. Even with his girlfriend’s part-time job, they weren’t making much considering they had kids to provide for as well. So, when a horrific event happened, it appeared as if all hope was lost.
A Gloomy Day
The rain was pouring hard on this particular day, and Loren was driving across a flooded road. He was able to handle the rain with ease because he had extensive driving experience. At the time of the incident, Loren was not speeding or driving aggressively, but the conditions just got too extreme.
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Loren’s luck ran out at that point. Speeding cars were arriving from both directions, but due to the heavy rain, he could only see the headlights and couldn’t tell how close they were or what speed they were traveling at. With visibility low and the road flooded with water, he was in a tough situation.
The Unfortunate Accident
To avoid being hit by the car, Loren tried to get off the road. However, his vehicle flipped over and rolled into a ditch. Rather than stop and assist the unfortunate motorist, the other driver accelerated and continued on his way. What he remembered last was some weak light and the fuzzy silhouette of his rescuer.
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Luckily, someone took him to the hospital. He felt pain in his neck and ankle, but he fainted and couldn’t recall anything else. Unconsciousness prevented him from keeping track of time or understanding his precarious state. Life was on hold.
Horrific Damage
In the hospital, he couldn’t recall anything apart from his girlfriend holding his hand and talking to the doctor in charge. Loren assumed he was dead. He merely wished to avoid life’s misfortune. His foot was entirely crushed in the collision, and he was unable to feel any sensation in his limb.
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Loren hoped to make a full recovery, but his foot posed ongoing issues. Sadly, it just wasn’t getting better. Then he and his girlfriend were hit with some news from the doctor that left them inconsolable.
Inevitable Truth
Loren and his girlfriend were left with no choice but to allow the doctors to amputate his leg to prevent further complications. The physicians determined that his leg had been infected to a dreadful extent after conducting several tests. At the end of the week, Loren’s leg was removed without any complications at all.
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Immediately after the operation, he reached down to scratch an itchy part of his leg, but to his dismay, the leg wasn’t there. There’s a phrase in medicine for this: phantom limbs. He was in a state of shock at the time, but the facts could not be changed.
Insufficient Funds
Because he was in the hospital for so long, Loren lost all of his savings. He couldn’t leave the hospital and couldn’t work anyway since the time he spent caring for his leg had meant his customers had to go elsewhere. The only solution was to seek assistance from the unemployment office; however, that wasn’t easy.
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Loren believed they could end up homeless, given their dire circumstances. His partner decided they had to find a way to transport her children to her grandmother’s house in another state. However, nothing could be done since their savings were all spent on medical expenses.
His Indifferent Family
Loren reflected on how helpless he felt at the time because no one from his family had visited him besides his mother, who had shown up a few times but had provided him with no assistance or care. As a result, he was left to deal with the matter independently. In the wake of Loren’s near-fatal accident, a buddy decided to give him a second chance at life.
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Loren was able to rent a little cabin from a friend for around $700 a month. Despite the low price, Loren and his girlfriend were down to their last $200. These funds were essential for their survival, so they couldn’t use them all to pay for housing.
Terrible News
A phone call from a lawyer brought even more bad news. Loren’s beloved grandmother had died. His girlfriend had to tell him the bad news, and as it turned out, the old woman hadn’t left a will. Thus, there was no way to confirm that she wanted to give her books to Loren.
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His grandma’s house was completely deserted upon his arrival, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. He assumed she had been robbed and made a few phone calls to check. However, he soon learned that his grandmother’s belongings – including her books – had been taken by his family members.
One Last Piece
They’d all been snatched by his sister out of malice. To ensure her brother wouldn’t get the books he was promised, she drove all the way to their grandmother’s house to snatch them first. Loren was roaming around the house in a state of sadness when he came across a gym bag.
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It was the only thing Loren had left to remember his grandmother by. The material inside the bag had a foul odor and was covered with dust. However, the blanket inside the bag held memories of his grandma, so it brought a sad smile to his face. His sister had spotted the old blanket, but she didn’t think about taking it.
A Surprise
They never gave the old blanket a second consideration for nearly seven years. Loren’s partner washed it and stored it in the closet, but on one particular day, this innocent old blanket became a central player in this unfolding narrative. Loren liked watching Antiques Roadshow, and he was astonished one day to see a blanket like his on the show.
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He was shocked when the show’s host got excited about a blanket that looked exactly like his grandmother’s. What was all his excitement about? Loren became even more surprised when the show brought in an expert to inspect the old blanket.
Could The Smelly Old Blanket Be Valuable?
Loren was thrilled to learn that the old blanket on the show was worth a lot of money. He couldn’t contain his excitement and went to the closet to get his blanket, comparing it to the one on screen. The fabric matched, and so did the anticipation of success!
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Loren immediately contacted his girlfriend and told her everything. The blanket’s value surprised her, and she didn’t believe him at first. Nobody can blame her – who would pay that much for a smelly old blanket? Loren went to his mother to find out more about the blanket.
Paying Mom A Visit
As for Loren’s mother, she was skeptical of the blanket’s value. At the time, she had been living in his grandmother’s house for several years, having moved in after the old woman passed away. Loren had questions concerning the blanket.
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He recalled his mother had an old photo album, so he asked for it, and she gave it to him. His great-great-grandfather, a worker in North Dakota, had pictures with the old blanket. Loren discovered them while sorting through the photo albums. He figured this item had been in his family for at least 150 years.
The Distinctive Material
Loren had little choice but to investigate the blanket’s value at a local pawn shop. This caused him great distress because the attendant had not arrived on schedule. He offered him $50 for the blanket as soon as he began inspecting it, but the man seemed too eager.
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Loren could see in the man’s face that the blanket was worth more than the measly $50 he was offering. This was all he needed to know. Loren had confirmed that the blanket had more to it, so he thanked the clerk and left the store.
Seeking A Specialist's Help
After a series of inspections and observations, Loren realized that he needed assistance from honest people who recognized the value of the blanket. So, he turned to the internet to find some experts. Soon, he discovered a small, family-run business that catered specifically to his needs.
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Later, Loren made the trip to meet the specialist, Jeff. In the workshop, Loren observed many antique items and saw how much they were valued, so he was confident that he had found the right place.
The Unfolding
Seeing Jeff’s shelves stocked with reference volumes, Loren had faith in the man’s abilities. Jeff, the head of the family firm, was planning to give Loren’s old blanket a thorough examination, and at the end, he would offer a reasonable price.
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Jeff called Loren into the office after a few minutes of talk. Small and crammed with numerous documents, such as maps and architectural plans, the office appeared cluttered. Loren unfolded the blanket on Jeff’s desk and hoped for a positive response from the expert.
Valuable Material
In the past, Jeff had been disappointed when people came to him stating that their property was worth a certain amount of money based on a TV episode or a book they had read.
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Many of these materials weren’t as valuable as their owners claimed them to be. In Jeff’s line of work, the truly valuable items were few and far between. As a result, Jeff was not anticipating much from Loren’s blanket. However, the moment he saw it laid out on his table, his mind began to change.
The Blanket's Origins
At the time, Jeff had read about the material they were looking at and was familiar with the old blanket’s style. He knew everything about such materials from his texts. He ran his hand across the blanket, confirming the texture, colors, and weave were all just as described in his books. What he witnessed left him speechless.
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Despite this, Jeff remained silent about his excitement. He was still not fully convinced that the blanket was genuine. So, Jeff asked about the backstory of the antique blanket to verify its authenticity. When Loren began speaking, he informed him of the original owners – his great-grandparents – and confirmed that his grandmother had left it behind for him.
A Spark Of Hope
When Loren presented Jeff with his great-grandmother’s photo, Jeff couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Although he was an expert, he wanted to get a second opinion to confirm the great value of the blanket. Jeff decided he needed a special kind of expert to help him out.
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He asked Loren to take the blanket to a weaver or textile expert. Loren agreed. Luckily, Jeff knew somebody at the local university who could test and examine the blanket. Loren went home, hoping for good news.
Keeping A Positive Attitude
After they sent the blanket to a specialist, Loren pondered a wide range of possibilities. He wished for luck from the blanket while also thinking of his sister. He hadn’t seen her since the day of their grandmother’s death.
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In the face of adversity, Loren’s aspirations and hopes were fading. He had lost a limb, and finding work wasn’t easy. Buying a house, making things easier for his family, and being a good provider were his major aspirations in life. However, it seemed as though his hopes were vanishing until the phone rang.
Uncertain Hope
After Jeff asked Loren to come and get the blanket, Loren was dismayed. Jeff wouldn’t have told him to come and pick it up if the blanket was worth something, he reasoned. Despite this, he cherishes the blanket as a memento of his grandmother.
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Loren was accompanied by his partner, and though he tried to stay positive, despair filled the car on the way to Jeff’s office. If the blanket wasn’t worth anything, his partner encouraged him to be thankful for the gift he received from his lovely grandma.
Rekindled Faith
As soon as Loren observed Jeff’s expression, he began to feel hopeful again. Inquiring about the blanket’s value, Loren desperately sought an answer from Jeff. “Does this blanket have any value?” In response, Jeff carefully removed the blanket from a protective case and placed it on the table.
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Jeff explained why the blanket was so special. He said to Loren that the blanket’s history made it a valuable artifact. If it weren’t for the Antiques Roadshow episode, Loren admitted he would have never given the blanket’s value a second thought.
Historical Value
These blankets were first made by the Navajo in the 17th century, and Loren’s could be traced back to that period. Their garments, especially the woven ones, became famous all over the world. The Navajos’ superior garments attracted the Spanish and other Native American tribes.
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Because of how they were crafted, the blankets became a hot item. The tight weaving pattern makes them waterproof. So, the special cloth was often utilized as a blanket at night and as everyday clothes during the day. It could shield the wearer against the cold and other elements.
The Value Of A House
The value of the blanket could not be boiled down to just the pattern or texture. The blanket’s beauty and history contributed to its astonishing value. Only chiefs and notables could afford this style back then. In 1830, a house cost roughly $200, and these blankets cost almost as much.
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A Navajo blanket could go for $150 in the early 1800s – roughly the cost of a home! A slew of thoughts ran through Loren’s head. He dreamed of becoming a millionaire, but he was also concerned about the proliferation of counterfeit materials that purport to be authentic Navajo pieces. He struggled to believe it was real.
Rare And Authentic
Loren’s blanket was considered “First Phase” because it was the Navajos’ original artwork. Jeff went on to say that the blanket was original and unique because it was genuinely Navajo-made. Because of this, he stated that the blanket was extremely rare and pricey.
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Jeff told Loren and his girlfriend that “there were numerous First Phase Navajo blankets back then,” but only around 50 remain. Jeff explained that “many people, especially the wealthy, want one of these blankets.” In other words, the blanket had the potential to be a game-changer for this family.
Selling The Blanket
Loren informed Jeff that he planned to sell the blanket as soon as the tests were complete, even before Jeff had offered to buy it from him. Jeff was astonished to find Loren selling his grandmother’s lone heirloom. Because of his family’s current position, however, Loren imagined that his grandma would be delighted if he could obtain some value out of the blanket.
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Loren’s grandma would prefer to see her grandson happy again, especially if she could be the one to bring that happiness to him once more. Because of this, Loren was confident enough to put the blanket up for sale and look forward to a happier future.
A Special Offer
Loren spent a lot of time on the company’s website in the weeks leading up to the auction, keeping an eye out for any changes to the auction items. He was startled to see all the comments about the blanket, and he realized it must be worth a fortune.
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A week before the auction, a shocking event occurs. Loren’s phone rang, and a caller inquired about the blanket. Surprisingly, the man offered Loren $200,000 to keep him from selling the blanket on auction day. The man was desperate for it, and Loren knew that the money would change his life for the better.
A Sudden Meeting
Loren jotted down the person’s information and told him he’d think about it for a while. Loren contacted Jeff immediately and told him what had happened, but Jeff disapproved. Still, Loren was tempted to accept the large offer.
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Loren received a phone call from Jeff, who advised that they meet in a public place. The closest public venue to Loren’s residence was a Pizza Hut, so they arranged to meet there. Loren had a feeling that he was being watched. Jeff arrived before Loren, so he waited in his car.
The Envelope
Jeff had a strategy in place before Loren did. He knew Loren would be tempted to sell the blanket before the auction day, but he also knew this would be a terrible idea. In case Loren was skeptical about the blanket’s value, Jeff prepared an envelope and gave it to him in advance. As soon as he opened it, Loren was taken aback.
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Jeff had put $9,000 cash in the envelope to convince Loren to wait until the auction day. This would allow Loren to cover his family’s expenses in the meantime and stop stressing. Jeff knew Loren would have more than enough to pay him back when the day of the auction arrived. So, Loren waited.
The Auction Day
Loren and his partner arrived at the auction early. He was startled to discover many other historical artifacts scattered throughout the room. He saw that his item had been included in a list of historical items, all of great value.
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That day, the folks who arrived at the auction to bid on the historical artifacts had already made their way around the room to see what was on offer. Loren was surprised to see Jeff with another recognizable face at the time. Loren didn’t take long to figure out who it was.
A Very Familiar Face
In a flash, Loren recognized the face of the expert from Antiques Roadshow. It was the man who had inspected the other Navajo blanket on television. They laid out the blanket on the table and took their time studying it. After seeing the blanket, Loren noticed how happy the specialist became.
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People were inspecting the items on the list before starting the action. Loren and his partner were content to be right next to their prized possession. They were shocked to learn that the blanket drew more attention than any other artifacts at the event.
The Bidding Has Begun
People were roused to attention by the voice of the auctioneer. Bidding had begun! Negotiations quickly got underway. Enthusiastic buyers bid on their favorite products while Loren and his girlfriend watched in silent amazement.
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The auctioneer’s job was to set a starting price, and the bidders took it from there. Loren was contemplating the value of the blanket. Many of the listed products were purchased at a predetermined price, and some were lowered before a buyer agreed. How much would the old blanket fetch?
A Moment Of Doubt
Buyers were shown the blanket. The smiles on their faces indicated that they were pleased with the item. After the auction began, Loren became concerned and puzzled because the beginning bid was $150,000. If no one bid on the blanket, what would happen?
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He feared it would have been wiser and more appropriate for him to collect the $200,000 from that buyer who called him. Before the bidding started, his anxiety spiraled out of control, but he soon learned that he had no reason to worry.
Higher Bids
Loren was both thrilled and confused. The initial price was shown on the first card. Then another card said $250,000. He was pleased to see that the price had risen above the initial offer he’d turned down. Loren couldn’t keep his composure, seeing a $300,000 card and a $350,000 bid soon after.
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When the price reached $500,000, many bidders fell out of the competition. At that point, a bidding war escalated between a woman who was bidding over the phone and the expert Loren had seen on television.
Did You Say $1.5 Million?
It went from $750,000 to $900,000, and the bidding war still wasn’t over. Loren was struggling to hold back the tears by this time. He was in a state of disbelief. Suddenly, the woman on the other end of the phone agreed to pay $1,000,000! Everyone was taken aback.
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There was no stopping the auctioneer from raising the price to $1.3 million. The expert from TV continued bidding until the cost of the blanket reached $1.4 million, which was too high for his budget. Loren was thrilled, but the bidding didn’t stop there.
Blanket Sold!
Loren was taken aback when he saw the ultimate selling price. He was going to be taking home $1.5 million, and he could not get over it. In his mind, he wondered if he was dreaming. How could this be happening to him after all his bad luck?
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Loren was trembling and struggling to keep his eyes dry as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He later asked for water and a towel to wipe his sweat since he was hyperventilating to the point where he could not speak. The incredible thing is that all of this happened in less than three minutes.
An Unexpected Phone Call
After the auction, Loren and his partner could not fight back their tears anymore. Even Jeff was overcome with emotion. Only three or four times had he ever been brought a treasure that was worth millions. So, this was a special moment for him too.
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Loren received $1.3 million as a result of the auction’s success, with the rest covering fees and other costs. Soon after, the phone rang. In fact, it rang right when Loren, his partner, and their friends were toasting and contemplating the family’s next step.
The Wicked Sister
Getting to speak with his mother on the phone made Loren very happy. In the end, he felt devastated when his mother informed him that his sister was enraged and had plotted to force him to give up the blanket. Loren was upset that his sister couldn’t just leave him alone, and he was unsure of what to do next.
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The blanket clearly belonged to Loren. His sister had not taken it when she went through their grandmother’s home, and she’d shown no interest in it for seven years. The money was substantial, but she had taken all of their grandmother’s other possessions. The blanket was the only thing she didn’t want.
The Sister Didn't Stand A Chance
Loren called his grandma’s lawyer and recounted everything that had happened in the hope that he could help him win if his sister filed a lawsuit. Loren was surprised to hear the lawyer chuckling. His sister had no case, the lawyer explained. “No lawyer would listen to her,” he claimed with a chuckle.
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Loren did not find it amusing in the least. Fearing a legal battle, he didn’t want to waste all the auction proceeds on a lawyer, and he was afraid of being sued. Loren was perplexed at this moment and wanted to know why his sister was so enraged at him. However, he put the litigation ahead of everything else.
A Well-Deserved Happy Ending
Loren’s mother called him the following week to tell him that his sister had chosen to abandon the case. He suspected that she had sought legal advice and was aware that even if she falsely accused him, she would not win the case. No one could take Loren’s delight away from him – he never had to worry about money again.
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Loren used his newfound fortune to plan an extravagant wedding for him and his girlfriend. He went on to buy two homes and make stock investments. The two of them went to Mexico for a holiday, and he purchased a Harley Davidson and a new car. Loren and his new girlfriend have our heartfelt congratulations! After everything he has been through, spending his money and taking pleasure in his new, affluent life is what he deserves. We just hope he doesn’t squander his newfound fortune!