Rudy's Angel
Posted by: tz8cy5 <tz8cy5@...>
I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries.
I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 37 years was still too raw.
And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
Rudy often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look
for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking
down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. Rudy knew I loved
yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items
and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since Rudy had passed on.
Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two. Standing
by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how Rudy had
loved his steak. Suddenly a woman came up beside me. She was blond, slim and
lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of
T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She
turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.
She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly,
at these prices, I don't know." I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met
her pale blue eyes. "My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her.
Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my
voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together." She
shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in
her basket and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy
products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart,
I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream section near the front of the
store. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed
the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front.
I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me.
In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had
ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blond hair as she kept
walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.
As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes.
"These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow
roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they will know these are paid
for."
She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I
wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to
speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.
I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and
found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I
wasn't alone. "Oh, Rudy, you haven't forgotten me, have you?" I whispered, with
tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.
[ I disagree with the end, but the "who is my neighbor" question is well
answered in this exchange between two strangers. - ed ]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord,
that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible,
thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have
the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is
burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for
my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and
the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There
are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the
opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my
circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life!