The "date"

[sunshine]

This message didn't have a title, and I wasn't sure what to put for it, but it's a lovely message anyway-- get your tissues handy before reading.






A little while ago I 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. 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 okay?" 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 spend 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 entrees, 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 other's 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 my mother and I had dined. An attached
note read: "Son, I paid this bill in advance. I was almost sure that I
couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for
you and the other for your 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 your family. Give them the time they
deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other
time."

[Julia Kimber]

That is beautiful and sad too! Thanks for sharing!
Julia

[AmyMCGS]

That's so sweet-- and something to think about.

[guest2]

Oh goodness, that was a wonderful reminder. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[KKCondrey]

That was sweet, now I need to find some tissues.

[canadian gardener]

amen to that Denise, thanks for sharing.

[Heather]

Oh my, you've all got me crying twice today!

That was beautiful Denise and so true! Let's love each other NOW, not to wait!