mother...i love you...

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me totake another woman out to dinner and a movie.She said, 'I love you, but I know this otherwoman loves you and would Love to spend some time with you.'The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of mywork and my Three children had made it possible to visit her onlyoccasionally.That night I called to invite her to go out fordinner and a movie. 'What's wrong, are you well,' she asked? My Motheris the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surpriseinvitation is a sign of bad news.'I thought that it would be pleasant to spendsome time with you,' I responded 'just the two of us.'She thought aboutit for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much.'That Friday after work, as I drove over to pickher up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed thatshe, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the doorwith her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress thatshe had worn To celebrate her last wedding anniversary.She smiled from a face that was as radiant as anangel's. 'I told My friends that I was going to go out with my son, andthey were impressed,' she said, as she got into the car. 'They can'twait to hear about our meeting.'We went to a restaurant that, although notelegant, was very nice and cozy. My Mother took my arm as if she werethe First Lady.After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Hereyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I liftedmy eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smilewas on her lips.'It was I who used to have to read the menu whenyou were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let mereturn the favor,' I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeableconversation nothing Extraordinary but catching up on recent events ofeach other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As wearrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, butonly if you let me invite you.' I agreed.'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when Igot home. 'Very nice, Much more so than I could have imagined,' Ianswered.A few days later, my Mother died of a massiveheart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to doanything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy ofa restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. Anattached note said: 'I Paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that Icould be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for youand the other for Your wife. You will never know what that night meantfor me.I love you, son.'At that moment, I understood the importance ofsaying in time: 'I love YOU' and to give our loved ones the time thatthey deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Givethem the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till'some other time.'

THANKS TO MISS SUBA...