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 had
started to go 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."
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 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 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 door 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.
Half way through the entrée, 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 that you relax and let me return the favor," I
responded.
During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation - nothing
extraordinary - but catching up on recent events of each others
life.
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. Much more so 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. 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. 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 you wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.
I love you."
At that moment I understood the importance of saying, in time: "I
LOVE YOU" 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 be put off to "some other
time".
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Note from GranGran: Isn't this an absolutely wonderful story? I just love it.
It reminds me of a slightly different angle on it. My daddy and my
grandmother (his
mother-in-law) were so close. He was always so willing to do anything to help
her and they truly loved each other. They're both gone now -- how I miss them.
The picture above is my Mammaw with four of her great grandchildren........and
this picture was taken on a Mother's Day many years ago. The two sweeties on
the left are my fine sons. Ironically the two in her lap were born on the same
day. My son, Todd, was born in the morning and my cousin's wife had Cindy
later in the afternoon.
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