~Rudy's Angel~

As 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 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
vision.  I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green
tissue wrapping and found it almost real. 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.

Everyday 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 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!

Pass this on to the friends you know, it might help a bit to make
this world a better place to live, right?
PASS IT ON...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 AND I AM HONORED!  Now send this to
every friend you have!  This was sent to me by a friend, and is now
passed on to YOU, my friend!

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