This was good. It definitely got my attention.
Becky From: steve doyle Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 7:37 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [RecipesAndMore] A Date With The Other Woman A Date With The Other Woman After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife's idea. "I know you love her," she said one day, taking me by surprise. "But I love YOU!" I protested. "I know, but you also love her." The other woman my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years. The demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night, I called 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 it would be pleasant 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 to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting." 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. Her eyes could only read large print. Halfway through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time you relaxed 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 and kissed her good night. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much nicer than I could have imagined," I answered. 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 for her. Sometime 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. I was almost sure that I couldn't be there, but, never-the-less, I paid for two plates, one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant to me. I love you." At that moment, I understood the importance of saying, "I LOVE YOU" in time, and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot always be put off to "some other time." _____ When You Thought I Wasn't Looking A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking... I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking... I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking... I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking... I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking" Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
