Shell666 0 #1 February 3, 2006 After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you." The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my 3 children and 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 surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded. Just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and 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 entries, 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 where mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could 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, son." 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." Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . . . Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history. Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct... Somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping. Somebody said being a mother is boring . . . Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said good mothers never raise their voices . . . Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother . . . Somebody never helped a 4th grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the 5th child as much as you love the first... Somebody doesn't have 5 children. Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books... Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears. Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery... Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the 1st day of kindergarten. Or on a plane headed for military boot camp. Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back... Somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies. Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married... Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son- or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home ... Somebody never had grandchildren. Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... Somebody isn't a mother. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 3 #2 February 3, 2006 You should have put an NSFW warning on that, 'Shell. I'm crying at my desk, and everyone who walks by my office is looking at me. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #3 February 3, 2006 QuoteYou should have put an NSFW warning on that, 'Shell. I'm crying at my desk, and everyone who walks by my office is looking at me. Sorry sweetie ... I have an office so no one saw me crying. 'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MLKSKY 0 #4 February 3, 2006 Me too. The lady that sits next to me is like "are you okay?" Whew. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hambone 0 #5 February 3, 2006 That is an amazing story. Makes me want to do the same for my mom. I think the best thing that happend to my mom and my's relationship in a long time was her doing a tandem. It really brought us closer together, cuz we shared something that none of our other family members have. Shell, that truly is an amazing story. Thankyou for sharing it with us. Yeah...You need to grow up. -Skymama Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #6 February 3, 2006 It's been awhile since I had my eyes fill with tears at work. amazing story as hambone has said. I've been trying to get my parents to experience skydiving for about a year now. Maybe I should experience something they want to do. Thanks so much!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #7 February 3, 2006 I like visiting with my mother... and father... they are different in a lot of ways but I enjoy doing different things with them... it was a great story.Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SLIDER 0 #8 February 3, 2006 I'm not very old and I lost my mother to leukemia 20yrs a go........................ Call your mom !!! Scott __________________________________"there's a fine line between hobby and mental illness" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #9 February 3, 2006 QuoteI'm not very old and I lost my mother to leukemia 20yrs a go........................ Call your mom !!! Scott I lost mine just over 20 years ago myself. Definitely call your mom! Or substitute "mom" with "dad". You'll make their day. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #10 February 3, 2006 You're not talking to me specifically are you? becasuse for what its worth I spoke to my mother this afternoon... (my mother and father are driving back from AZ right...)Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #11 February 4, 2006 I sit and look over the thread titles wondering what to read. I am glad I picked this one. Your wife is a saint. We need to listen to them more often. My mom is 86, living on her own and still driving. I took her to the local high school musical last Saturday night. She had a blast. I don't think her toe ever stopped tapping. Her great grandson sat in front of her and she kept leaning forward to poke him and ask him about the kids in the play. It was great. Those nights are precious. We live 3 hours away now and they are fewer and farther between.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #12 February 5, 2006 I hope you are the person that started this same story that has been going around on the internet. If so, great. If not, shame on you unless you had exactly the same experience.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #13 February 6, 2006 QuoteI hope you are the person that started this same story that has been going around on the internet. If so, great. If not, shame on you unless you had exactly the same experience. Hmm ... no, I'm not the person that started this. It was forwarded to me and I thought I would share it as well. I don't think that warrants a "shame on me". 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #14 February 7, 2006 Duh on me!!!!!!!!! Must have been in a stupid mood that night. Can't believe I did that.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
