Ridecamp: [RC] Three Yellow Roses...

My Mom came up to visit over the 4th of July...she's 82 and lives in
Eastern North Carolina. It's interesting that she has only been married
just once...to my Dad.  When she was about 60, she was really close with
a guy named George.  Wherever my Mom went, George was there.  He called
her "Myrt" and took her everywhere. (Her name is Myrtle Letitia) They
loved to grocery shop together. George was a truck driver, and we always
assumed they were a matched set. George was going to retire...but on his
LAST run before retirement, he was killed in an motor vehicle accident.
<sigh> After that, I think she gave up on companionship...just wasn't
worth the pain.

Anyway, she has been trying to make it up to North Georgia for several
years, but has been having some health problems. Always talked about
wanting to see the horses...been sending her Endurance pictures now and
then.  My niece Kim and her husband Andy and their two daughters
Elizabeth (Biz) and Hannah rented an RV and made it easy for her.  They
got in about 11:00 PM...had to shine the lights in the pasture so she
could see the horses!

Biz and Hannah fell in love with the horses...Biz sorta adopted Sunny
and Hannah couldn't stay away from Magic...occasionally we got them away
from the horses to eat. Biz is 7 and Hannah is 5. Biz has no
fear...(Hmmm...future Endurance Rider?) Hannah's highlight was she got
to sit on Magic. (I don't quite trust him for pony rides yet.)
Meanwhile, Biz is using Sunny for a jungle gym. Sunny thought he had
died and gone to heaven. Nickered when he saw her coming! Ran thru
pounds of carrots!

Pony rides forever....Biz wasn't happy with a walk...wanted to "go
faster". <grin>

With thoughts of family, friends, and loved ones, I leave you at the end
of this 4th of July weekend with the following:

THREE YELLOW ROSES

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 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 beside me. She was blonde, 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.
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, and 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, 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.

Remember, it's not where you're going...it's the journey that matters.

God Bless America....

Jim, Joan, Maggie, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic


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