God Bless you Randy Stewart. You are my angel. I lost my husband of 53 years ,a year ago next month. I was having a really bad day until I read your message on the Pike mailing list. I know there are angels among us and our loved ones send them to help us. On Vantentine Day of this year I was in Winn Dixie and upon seeing all of the flowers, cards etc, I couldn't control the tears or the ache in my heart. The poor young manager didn't know how to console me, and the more that I tried to controll the tears, the more they flooded down my cheeks. In desperation , the poor guy reached on a shelf and got a stuffed animal and a small cake and handed it to me. I thanked him as best as I could and left the store hugging the stuffed animal. When I got in the car, I saw that the stuffed animal was a hound dog holding a heart in his mouth, with" I love You "written on the heart. My husbands hounddog Beau looks like the little dog. I know there will be those that will say this doesn't pertain to genealogy but for the sake of all of us that have suffered a loss please indulge us this one letter. I seldom interact with the Mailing List but in this case I felt that I had to. I feel that Randy wrote this letter for me. Thank You, Doris B.----- Original Message ----- From: "RANDY STEWART" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 7:27 PM Subject: [AL-PIKE] T-bone steaks & Yellow Roses > > Here's to T-bone steaks, yellow roses and friendship. > READ THIS!!!! and then reread it. Especially the last part... > > I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying > groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years was > still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories. > > He 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. > > He 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 he 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 he had loved his steak. > > Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft > green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package 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. 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 > blonde 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, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my > eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel. > > Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are. > (Please read all of this, it is really nice) > > This is a simple request. If you appreciate life, send this to your > friends, including the person that sent it to you. > > 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, tempers are short, and 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 picture 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. > > Pass this on to the friends you know. It might help a bit to make this > world a better place to live, right? A friend is someone we turn to when > our spirits need a lift. A friend is someone to treasure. > > For friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with > Beauty, Joy and Grace and makes the world we live in a better and happier > place. > > YOU ARE MY FRIEND! > > God bless you and yours. > > Now send this to every friend you have and don't forget me! > > > > > > "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of > battle." > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ > countries) for 2¢/min or less. > > > ==== ALPIKE Mailing List ==== > Share your Pike Co. Records (and other counties): > http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.2/294 - Release Date: 3/27/2006 >