Rudy's Angel

[bluidkiti]

RUDY'S ANGEL
Author Unknown

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying
groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 37 years
was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

Rudy 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.

Rudy 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 Rudy 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 Rudy had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blond, 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. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream
section near the front of the store. 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 blond 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, Rudy, you
haven't forgotten me, have you?" I whispered, with tears in my eyes.
He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Everyday be thankful for what you have and who you are.