One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old 'blue hair' about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, 'Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate.'
I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. 'Along with heated apple pie,' Mae added, completely unabashed.
We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.
The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait. I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, 'Yes, you do, but also you confuse me. How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, 'I'm tasting all that is Possible. I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good .
This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before.' 'So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.
I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.
There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes.
I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.
I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.
I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast.
I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.
I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain.
I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again.
So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired.'
With that, I called the waitress over.. 'I've changed my mind, ' I said. 'I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream!'
This is my gift to you - Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.
Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. Remember that while money talks,
CHOCOLATE SINGS!
He and my Mum came to stay at my place on Friday May 18th 1979, almost winter here then, quite cold and very unlike my Dad to go anywhere feeling the cold as he did in his crippled legs.
I had lost my job and my car was for sale 'cause I needed the money to feed my two kids, last thing I needed right then was two extra mouths I didn't know how I was going to feed, but he was adamant he and Mum had to come and stay.
So they came. At his insistence we went shopping for groceries on the Saturday and he paid the food bill, but he also piled his wheelchair with lots of extra treats while I wasn't looking, Ginger nut biscuits, candied Ginger, Smalls Club chocolate, tinned plum pudding, ready made custard are just some I remember, probably because they were his favourites but they only ever had those treats at Christmastime.
We really had a lovely day shopping and he bought me a money purse (red leather) and when he gave it to me he said that things would get better, I'd get another job and would soon have money again to put in it.
Sunday afternoon rolled around and he insisted he wanted Fish and Chips for his dinner, totally off limits on his diabetic diet, but he absolutely would not have anything else! That's his favourite meal and I shouldn't deprive him of it. Getting fish n chips was no mean feat out where I was living. Still I drove twenty or so miles until I found a milk bar, bought the fish n chips and drove back home. While they re-heated in the oven and the canned pudding boiled away in a saucepan we had a sing-along, like we used to when i was a kid.
It was a wonderful time, despite my worries about my lack of job and finances.
Two hours later my Darling Dad had a massive Coronary and passed away despite the efforts of two teams of paramedics.
Four years ago I found my Dad's diaries and turned to the last week of entries, my siblings and I had always suspected he knew he was going to die soon, and his entries for that last week proved our suspicions correct.
He chose me, the middle child, the strong one, to be with, to leave my Mum with. To share those last precious moments eating what he wanted, being where he loved to be, enjoying some fun and laughter. Despite his affliction he loved life, he loved his food, he loved a glass of Port, he loved to laugh and he enjoyed a sing-along. Guess he knew this daughter would give in to him and he would enjoy all those things just once more.
So you see the moral of this story is Never put off til tomorrow what you can eat, drink and enjoy today!
Hugs n Roses and thank you Joye for helping me recall a very precious memory that I can now smile about, Meganne
