Hi Sandra Many Thanks, I Hope your doing OK? I wish you all the best. Hugs from Steve.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra Warren" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:18 AM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Re: The Happiest Day Of My Life > > I feel the same way about this one, Steve, simply beautiful, and intend to > share it to all my friends. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Frances Vitulla" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:16 AM > Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Re: The Happiest Day Of My Life > > >> >> Hello Steve, you really out did your self this time. What a beautiful >> story, I love this one. Thanks for sharing. >> Original message: >>> The Happiest Day Of My Life >>> It started innocently. Many years ago I worked in an office with large >>> windows facing a busy overpass. I was standing by one of those windows >>> one day when a woman in a passing car looked up and made eye contact. >>> Naturally, I waved. >>> A chuckle escaped my lips as she turned and tried to identify me. It >>> was the beginning of a year of window antics. When things were slow, I >>> would stand in the window and wave at the passengers who looked up. The >>> strange looks made me laugh, and stress was washed away. >>> Co-workers began to take an interest. They would stand out of view, >>> watch the reactions I received, and laugh along. Late afternoon was the >>> best time - rush-hour traffic filled the overpass with cars and >>> commuter buses, and provided lots of waving material for the end-of-day >>> routine. It didn't take long to attract a following - a group of >>> commuters who passed the window every day and looked up at the strange, >>> waving man. >>> There was a man with a construction truck who would turn on his >>> flashing yellow light and return my wave, the carpool crowd, and the >>> business lady with her children fresh from day care. But my favorite >>> was the transit bus from the docks that passed my window at 4:40 p.m. >>> It carried the same group every day, and they became my biggest fans. >>> After a while, waving became boring, so I devised ways to enhance my >>> act. I made signs - "Hi," "Hello," "Be Happy!" - and posted them in the >>> window and waved. I stood on the window ledge in various poses, created >>> hats from paper and file-folders, made faces, played peek-a-boo by >>> bouncing up from below the window ledge, stuck out my tongue, tossed >>> paper planes in the air, and once went into the walkway over the street >>> and danced while co-workers pointed to let my fans know I was there. >>> I didn't know it then, but a bond was forming between my fans and me. >>> It wasn't until the following spring that I discovered how close we had >>> become. >>> My wife and I were expecting our first child that spring, and I wanted >>> the world to know. Less than a month before the birth, I posted a sign >>> in the window, "25 DAYS UNTIL B DAY." My fans passed and shrugged their >>> shoulders. The next day the sign read, "24 DAYS UNTIL B DAY." Each day >>> the number dropped, and the passing people grew more confused. >>> One day a sign appeared in the bus, "What is B DAY?" I just waved and >>> smiled. >>> Ten days before the expected date, the sign in the window read, "10 >>> DAYS UNTIL BA DAY." Still the people wondered. The next day it read, "9 >>> DAYS UNTIL BAB DAY," then "8 DAYS UNTIL BABY DAY," and my fans finally >>> knew what was happening. >>> By then, my following had grown to include 20 or 30 different buses and >>> cars. Every night they watched to see if my wife had given birth. >>> Excitement grew as the days counted down. My fans were disappointed >>> when the count reached 0 without an announcement. >>> The next day the sign read, "BABY DAY 1 DAY LATE," and I pretended to >>> pull out my hair. >>> Each day the number changed, and the interest from passing cars grew. >>> When my wife was 14 days overdue she went into labor, and the next >>> morning our daughter was born. >>> I left the hospital at 5:30 a.m., screamed my joy into the still >>> morning air, and drove home to sleep. I got up at noon, showered, >>> bought cigars, and appeared at my window in time for my fans. My >>> co-workers were ready with a banner posted in the window: "IT'S A GIRL!" >>> I wasn't alone that night. My co-workers joined me in celebration. We >>> stood and waved our cigars in the air as every vehicle that passed >>> acknowledged the birth of my daughter. >>> Finally, the bus from the docks made its turn onto the overpass and >>> began to climb the hill. When it drew close, I climbed onto the window >>> ledge and clasped my hands over my head in a victory pose. The bus was >>> directly in front of me when it stopped dead in heavy traffic, and >>> every person on board stood with their hands in the air. >>> Emotion choked my breathing as I watched the display of celebration for >>> my new daughter. >>> Then it happened: A sign popped up. It filled the windows and stretched >>> half the length of the bus: "CONGRATULATIONS!" >>> Tears formed in my eyes as the bus slowly resumed its journey. I stood >>> in silence as it pulled from view. My daughter had been born 14 days >>> late. Those people must have carried the sign on the bus for at least >>> two weeks. Every day they had unrolled it and then rolled it back up. >>> We all have a clown inside of us. We need to let it free and not be >>> surprised at the magic it can create. For eight months I had made a >>> fool of myself, and those people must have enjoyed the smiles I gave >>> them, because on the happiest day of my life they had shown their >>> appreciation. >>> That day, more than 20 years ago, changed me. I just wanted to make my >>> day better. >>> I didn't realize how it affected others. >>> Ever since then, I try to put a smile on someone's face every day. I >>> compliment strangers on their clothing. I start conversations in >>> elevators. I even make jokes in crowded New York City subways. Some may >>> think I am crazy, but I know there is a chance that I'm making >>> someone's day, someone who may, one day, hold up a sign that says >>> "Congratulations!" >> >>> >> -- >> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit >> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. >> >> > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
