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but it turned out by the end to be.........well read on.......
After 21 years of marriage, I have discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A short time ago I started going out with another woman. It was really my wife's idea. "I know that you love her," she said one day, taking me by surprise. "But I love YOU," I protested. "I know, but you also love her," she said. The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called my mother to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well?" she asked.My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be nice to pass some time with you," I responded. "Just the two of us?" She thought about it for a moment then said,"I would like that very much." That Friday, after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our "date." She waited in the doorway with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going out with my son tonight and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our date." We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu for her because her eyes could only read the large print. Half way through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me with a nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu to you when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation -- nothing extraordinary -- just catching up on recent events of each other's lives. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice," I replied. "Much more so than I could have imagined." A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything more for her. Some time later I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance because I was almost sure that I couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates -- one for you and the other for you wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you." At that moment I understood the importance of saying "I LOVE YOU" while there was time, and giving our loved ones the thought that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things should never be put off until "some other time."
-------------------- " IF YOU WANNA PLAY WITH THE BOYS, THEN YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE TOYS " FORMER OWNER OF: 2002 Camaro SS Sebring Silver Metallic, Ebony leather, Automatic Trans, 17" Chrome wheels, SLP SS grille, and Monsoon stereo Other mods:SLP LOUDMOUTH exhaust, SLP cold air induction kit, air lid, and smooth bellow Posts: 924 | From: new york | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Remindes me of when mom took all 4 kids ,spouses & grandkids to Disney and would not hear of anybody paying for anythine even airfair.I'm sure the dinner with the wife will be an extra special one .....Enjoy .
Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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I think of that every time I see my mom, she is 84 years old. Her health isn't too good,so I cherish every moment and look forward to the next time I see her. Nice story. After losing two wives,you never know if you will ever get the chance to say goodbye.
-------------------- http://community.webshots.com/user/sscamaro02 AMERICAN CAMARO ASSOCIATION 2002 SS (M02-2022)(Build Date 9/10/01) T-Top,Bright Rally Red,Ebony Leather,Hurst Shifter,SLP Options: 345HP,SS Grille,SS Floor Mats,Personalized SS Rear Deck Mat,17"X 9" ZR1 Type Chrome Wheels,SS Cover,Engine Plaque. Additional Mods:GMMG Chambered Exhaust,FLP LT Headers,SLP CAI,K&N Filter,Silver Hood Stripes, Silver Letters on Rear Facia and Spohn Performance LCA, Panhard,SFC and Adj. Torq Arm w/Drive Shaft Loops.384/rwhp and 381/rwtq
1969 SS396 Olympic Gold.Unrestored,L34(350HP),M21 close ratio 4-Speed,Cowl Hood,Spoilers Front and Rear,Console w/Gages.Second owner since Nov.1971. 1 of 2018 Produced Posts: 828 | From: Denver,PA | Registered: Dec 2001
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The message here is just so true. I am 53 years old and have been an orphan for 8 years. My wife is 49 and we have both been without our parents since mid-'94 - early '95. In our experience, both of us have seen people who have put off saying and doing these things for their loved ones until it is too late. Life is not a dress rehearsal and we don't get a 2nd chance. Even more sad is the potential effect that not doing or saying what is in your heart can have on an individual, if said individual should "miss the cut-off date", so to speak. "I would'a, could'a, should'a" can lead to a level of guilt that can be terrifyingly "immobilizing" (can't think of a better word). Thinking of the other person and empathizing with them, especially if that person is a parent is such a positive thing for all parties. Unfortunately, the worth and value in terms of the good that it does is often not apparent until after our parents are no longer with us. One of the things in my life that I am most grateful for is the fact that I have no regrets, even with my parents gone. God knows we had our battles and I still miss them both terribly, but even if I had the chance to, I wouldn't go back and change anything. I get a lot of peace from that feeling - believe me! A quick story which is apropos... My wife and I were sitting around one evening (my parents & her mom were still alive)doing the usual criticizing and complaining about our parents (as adult kids are wont to do) and I happened to say that all being said and done, my folks must have done a good job in bringing me up, since I was basically a happy person who was able to have meaningful and rewarding relationships and was also OK with who I was. So my wife said that was a very nice thought - why don't I pick up the phone and tell them this? This had never occurred to me to do, but it sure made a whole lot of sense. So that's what I did... and it totally blew them both away that I would say something like that to them. (they were very suspicious of my intentions at the onset of the conversation!) Anyway, I got them both on the line at the same time and told them what a great job they had done and that I wanted to just say "thank you" to them and that I really appreciated what they had allowed me to become. Within a year, they were both gone, and not a day goes by now, that I don't get strength from having told them how I felt at the time. And I suspect that they were both strengthened as well, by what I had to say to them... So... do what ya gotta do and say what ya gotta say... before it's too late. It makes the parting and the loss a whole lot easier to deal with. ... and thank you, NVMY02SS for sharing your thoughts here, and giving me an opportunity to spill... I guess I'm still going thru the process... 'cuz I feel a whole lot better having just said all this... I hope that this, along with your post, might also be a bit of a "wake-up call" for some and that only good will come from reading all this!
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your very welcome...im not one to share things like this but after loosing my friend a few weeks ago it really makes you stop and think how short life can be. you never know what might happen in a few seconds, a few mins, or a few days from now. Life has this uncontrolable urge to throw at us what it can and see if we can deal with the everyday events and the not so everyday events.
this is a little off the subject but...
back in July of 2002 i decided i was going to go back to college and going to get my degree in Forensic Science and Criminal justice....after taking one semester and talking with many people i decided even though forensic's is facinating to me that i really didnt want to do that line of work. i would only be helping find out what happened to people who have passed on and not helping the living appreciate life.
I knew in high school that i had wanted to be a kindergarten teacher so i took many classes to help me along the way. my reason for wanting to teach beside the obvious is helping to shape the next generation of presidents or CEO's of major companies....is that they have no idea what life has in store for them...they are a pure sign of LIFE!!!!!!
at such a young age, most people dont feel that they get satisfaction of knowing what life is. but its funny i watch my neice everyday grow and learn and its amazing to see her face light up when she learns how to do something after us showing her many times how to do it. She smiles and claps and she knows she did something good!!! that is what life is all about.
forget all the worries we have like are we gonna be able to pay the bills next month or what car "should" i be driving so i fit in with the jones' next door. those are superficial things and we really need to wake up people and smell the coffee becuase life is all about loving your family and telling them now that you do, dont wait until its too late!
ok so that was a bit off where we started this thread but i felt compelled to share that with my extended family......and by the way my camaro brothers and sisters...........I LUV YA ALL!!!!!!!
-------------------- " IF YOU WANNA PLAY WITH THE BOYS, THEN YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE TOYS " FORMER OWNER OF: 2002 Camaro SS Sebring Silver Metallic, Ebony leather, Automatic Trans, 17" Chrome wheels, SLP SS grille, and Monsoon stereo Other mods:SLP LOUDMOUTH exhaust, SLP cold air induction kit, air lid, and smooth bellow Posts: 924 | From: new york | Registered: Feb 2002
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