Dear Reader Column 08-24-09

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Dear Reader,

It was a love story. Boy meets girl. The girl was in her 70s, the boy in his 60s. From the very beginning it was a sweet, tender love and it became the kind of marriage that neither of them had experienced before, or even dreamed possible. I remember the first time my mother called to tell me about Ron. "This nice man who lives here in Cuba City brought a bouquet of flowers to my door and asked if I'd like to go to dinner this weekend and take a ride in the country. I was so nervous. I said yes, but I don't know what I'll wear. What am I going to talk about?"

Who was this woman on the other end of the phone? Never in my life had I heard my mother talk like this before, I couldn't imagine, but here she was as nervous as a teenager who'd just been asked to the Freshman Prom. It was a magical first date, my mother and Ron were married a few months later and they lived happily ever after, but being together only lasted for a couple of years. Two years after they were married my mother passed away from lung cancer.

Ron never stopped loving and pining for my mother. Frequently he'd call re-living stories about the things they did together. Nothing fancy, just simple things like the time they sat together on a bench looking out over the water and a light mist of rain was falling on them, or the flowers Ron planted in the backyard for my mother. A flower garden he still lovingly tended, "When I'm in the garden, it still feels like your mother is right beside me." And each time, before Ron would say goodbye, the tears would flow, even though it had been three years since my mother passed away.

Ron was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and last Sunday when he called, it was to say good-bye. "I'm going to be with your mother, Suzanne."

Writing it down this moment, it sounds a little like a fairy tale, but in a strange sort of way, I do believe it was one of those true love stories and my mother and Ron are finally together again, happily ever after.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[Wendy Catalano]

Oh Suzanne what a true love story!
Even though they were together for such a short time it was quality time.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Wendy Catalano

[Dave Cohn]

A wonderful tribute to love at any age.

Suzanne, this is one of your best pieces -- simple and complex, and beautifully written. I suspect that you had been working on it in your mind for a long time.

[Chellie Campbell]

Ah, Suzanne, you made me cry, darling. What a moving story and great reminder that love is bountiful and available at any age. Love you,
Chellie

[Lynn]

Suzanne, it sounds like your Mother and Ron were two very lucky people! It is seldom that two people find such happiness in their early years, much less the later ones. And weren't you so very lucky to be a part of it and what hope it gives to others to know that it's never too late.

[Sharon Henthorn Carns]

Suzanne, What a precious tribute to a precious couple ... I read it once, then called Gus in to read it aloud to him ... then read it again and again ... with tears of grateful remembrance each time. Thank you for sharing. Your Mother was a very special person; I wll cherish memories of her and Ron forever.