I was passed the following by a friend;

Passed to me from a friend who recently lost her husband, but it applies to everybody...We all need to treasure one another and each moment! Have a very safe and happy Memorial Day!!
Love,
Mari

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 3:44 PM
Subject: Fw:


I walked into the grocery store not particularly
interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry.
The pain of losing my husband of 7 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 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. Quart, I
finally decided 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 wrapping and found it almost unreal.
How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed 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.

(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? 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.

For brainless , {{{hugs}}}

One of my closest girlfriends died with cancer three years ago I loved her as I do all my friends
I always say friends are the family you choose to have. I was often down in the dumps and she would always come in fag hanging on the lip , sleeves rolled up , here she would say handing me a red rose , dont know what you see in those soppy flowers id rather a fag , that was her all heart. when she died I was distrought , not only was she my friend she was my neighbour as well, so passing the house was extremely painful , looking in the pathway expecting her to come out and jump in the jeep and say lets go neddy. walking down the road early one morning I saw a woman at her door. I enquired if I could help! she said she heard Teresa was ill and was coming to see her , I told her the bad news . She told me she had been very good to her son and how upset he was going to be as she had got him through college when he was depressed. she took in students for a living ,anyway she handed me the little bunch of flowers and said will you have those instead as I dont want to take them home , I accepted and she went her way . I looked at the flowers and right in the middle was one red rose , I got a warm feeling over me standing on her path I felt it was a message to me saying im ok , I dont know now if you all may think im mad but that is what I got from that incident.
I grew up with Teresa Kay Margaret Gerry Paddy Mary ann and Mary Gerrys wife, we were the best and closest friends ever , They all died in the last few years and none of them reached fifty yrs . all is left now of the ten best friends is Paddy Mary and me and our memories. so for today to you all . cherish your friends , they really are the business
At this time in my life I am in danger of losing another best friend the bestest one in the the world my beloved husband , I would ask you all to remember him in your prayers and pray I dont lose him . lol Mari

For Mari: Fountain of Love

I hear you cried a fountain
Because I went away
I hear that you reach out for me
every single day
I know that there’s not many songs
that you can bear to hear
that do not make you feel so sad
and want me to be near
please don’t cry a fountain because you think I’m dead
I’m here beside you every day
I’m here inside your head
I’m here with every breath you take
and every night when you’re asleep
into your room I gently creep
and place a kiss on your forehead
oh no my friend I am not dead
for there is no such thing you know
and I am here to prove it so
When body grew so tired
and my heart was beating slow
and my legs refused to move
I knew it was my time to go
Please don’t cry a fountain
I’m here with you forever
Though my body’s gone to dust
I will leave you never !

Glenys fryer

Thank you Mattie that is lovely.
I share the name sake of the lady Barbara wrote about. when I read it this morning I shared her pain as I am sure all of you did . there is no one free of grief thats a fact of life. Everyone has someone to mourn and grieve , but sometimes a little thought or gesture FROM SOMEONE ELSE helps you to know life must go on, thats the plan lol Mari

Oh my God you're all making me cry. I love the poem- and the saying 'friends are the family you choose to have' I'm so glad I've heard that- just a shame I didn't know it sooner. My first ever experience of losing someone close was quite strange really as most people lose grandparents etc when they're young children but I never did- I lost one of my friends at 17- and it hurt like hell- I couldn't understand what was happening, I couldn't make sense of my feelings etc- it still hurts so much still- that one really touched a raw nerve. When it's your family people expect you to be falling to pieces but when it's a friend no one really understands- I don't think they do anyway- they just say 'sorry'- that's why I love that saying because it better describes my feelings for my friend- if only I knew that then:(

I think we should all thank our lucky stars because some for some people lifes a struggle every day. The Lady that I worked with developed a cough at Christmas 2000, in June last year she was diagnosed with lung cancer in both lungs- she has two boys aged 13 and 18:( Another lady that I work with called Vicky- her Mum went into hospital for 'Gallstones'- as I only work part time I made sure I remembered to ask how her Mum was she's got stomach cancer and about two other cancers and a month to live- she's in her 40's

Stacey x x x

This came from my new friend Mari in the states from whom 3 friends and I have imported a puppy.

The lady who lost her husband I beleive is the wife of the first person in USA who took Elkhounds to Obedience Trial Champion. There have been 3! Plenty get other obedience titles, but only 3 have ever gone all the way to the top in Obedience.

I have an interest as 3 of the pups I have bred are working in Obedience.