Elwood Loc: Florida

A little while ago I started seeing another woman. Actually, it was my wife’s idea.
“You know you love her” she told me one day, out of the blue.
“Life’s short, you should give her more of your time.”
“But I love you, dear.” I replied.
“I know, but you love her too…” she said.
This other woman my wife wanted me to see was my mother.
She has been a widow for a few years now, and because of work and my kids, I didn’t get to see her very often.
I called my mother that night and asked her to join me for a movie and some dinner.
“Did something happen? Is anything wrong?” she asked.
You see, my mother belongs to the generation that thinks that any phone call after 7pm can only mean bad news…
“I just wanted to invite you for dinner and a movie, just the two of us. What do you think?”
After a few second, my mother simply said: “I’d like that…”
I drove over the next evening after work to pick her up; it was a Friday night, and I had a feeling I haven’t had in a long time – the kind of nervousness you get before a first date.
When I got there, I saw that my mother was also excited and nervous.
She was waiting outside, wearing her beautiful old coat, her hair all done up and had the dress she wore for her and dad’s last anniversary on.
Her face was lit up with a bright smile.

“I told my girlfriends I’m going on a date with my son tonight and they were very excited for me!” She told me when she got in the car.

The restaurant we went to was not the most fancy, but the staff was incredibly friendly.
My mother held my arm and looked like the first lady!
We sat down, and she asked me to read her the menu (“My eyes are not what they used to be” she said). Halfway through, I looked up and saw she was staring at me with a nostalgic smile on her face.
“When you were a child, I was the one who read you the menu.”
“Then allow me to return the favor, mom” I said.

We had a lovely conversation, not about anything in particular, just sharing what’s going on in our lives and eventually we spoke so much that the conversation just trailed off…
“I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me pay next time!” my mother said.
When I dropped her at her house, I felt genuinely sorry to see her leave.
I hugged and kissed her and told her how much I loved her.
When I came home later that night, my wife asked how the date went.
“It was wonderful, thank you for suggesting it!”
I looked at my wife and added “Much better than I could ever have imagined”.

A few days later, my dear mother passed away from a heart-attack.
It was very quick and there was nothing anyone could do.
A short time afterwards, I got a letter from the restaurant we went to that last time.


The letter read:

“I’m quite sure that I won’t be able to make it to our next date, so you and your wife can enjoy each other’s company like I did with you. I paid for your next meal here in full and I want you to know just how much that night meant to me!
I love you,
Mother”

phone


mother

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Your best post ever, Elwood. You, if this was your story, did a really good thing...and, your wife is to be commended. :thumbup:

If not, it is still a story to be remembered.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Excellent narrative, thanks for sharing it with us. the better I know you the more I like you.
God Bless

Elwood Loc: Florida

Not mine Slats, just something that came around among my many e-mails. When my mother was dying from uterine cancer in Africa by the time I got the news that she was dying she had already passed. I was in California at the time. That is one of the sad things when one lives continents away from one's parents and other family. Costs and logistics never work in your favor. :(

Elwood Loc: Florida

As I said to Slats, it was a story passed on to me through an e-mail. It struck a chord with me and I felt that it should be shared. :-D

reconreb Loc: America / Inglis Fla.

Dammit , ya made me cry , marines do not cry we just leak at either end !

Elwood Loc: Florida

It was kinda emotional. :cry:

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Kind of emotional??? I do believe you made my heart swell, the tears flow and remembering my mother's recent passing...

You're a beautiful man with an even more beautiful soul, my Dear Friend..Thank You for posting this cherishing story that IS going to those on in my address book........That is later, if the tears stop... :cry:

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

Now I know why WoW spells MoM when looking in the other direction.

Elwood Loc: Florida

:cry: :cry: :mrgreen:

Elwood Loc: Florida

Yes indeed. :thumbup: :thumbup: :-D

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

MoM

(..X...stand on the (x) and look both ways)

WoW

badbobby Loc: texas

heart warming
mothers are so very special
may mine rest in peace

Elwood Loc: Florida

:thumbup: :thumbup: Mine too. :(

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

May she indeed...I am sure she is Bobby~~
She had you...You, I am also sure gave her the beauty she bestowed in you to be the very person you are...

Know that she is pleased...