I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested
in buying groceries. I wasn’t hungry. The pain of losing
my husband of 57 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 shoul d buy. A Quart, I finally decid ed 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 wra pping and found it almost unreal. How did she
know? Suddenly the answer seem ed 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.
Very good one.