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My blog is about the Adventures of Lady G. I hope that you will enjoy the journey with me!
Also, likes and comments are welcome!!!
Your unwavering love and support have made all the difference in the lives of children. I’m forever grateful for you. Enjoy your special day!
Here’s to the moms who are no longer here but who’ve done their jobs well. The moms who steered us in the right direction, were there for us at our lowest, who built us up, loved us, shaped us and guided us to be the people we are today.
Your love was like moonlight turning harsh things to beauty, so that little wry souls
reflecting each other obliquely as in cracked mirrors . . . beheld in your luminous spirit
their own reflection transfigured as in a shining stream, and loved you for what they are not.
You are less an image in my mind than a luster I see you in gleams
pale as star-light on a gray wall . . . evanescent as the reflection of a white swan shimmering in broken water.
God, sometimes life gets us down and we find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open our eyes to see the gifts You’ve given to us in our lives. We’re going to start by thanking You for loving us enough to send Your Son to come to Earth and die so we can live togetherforever. In Your Son’s Jesus’ name, Amen.
It is my wish that these Scriptures about life will speak words of faith and purpose into our soul and in our heart and mind.
These Bible verses about life will remind us of God’s promises for our life.
In our reading of these Bible verses, I hope we learn what the Bible says about the meaning of life and trust God as a light for our journey in this thing call life.
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the wonderful public health leadership of our MARYs!
Mary D. Osborne was named the state’s first Director of Public Health Nursing in 1921.
At that time, Mississippi had the highest maternal death rate and the highest infant mortality rate of the entire United States.
Few hospitals existed, and most deliveries, even by physicians, occurred in the home.
Osborne developed and produced the authoritative teaching guide for all midwives practicing in the state, and built a network of public health nurses and training programs.
By 1950, the infant death rate in Mississippi had dropped by more than 90 percent.
Osborne was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 1996.
Mary Currier, MD, MPH, served as Mississippi’s State Health Officer (SHO) from 2010 to 2018, after a long career in public health.
Before being named SHO, she had been MSDH’s State Epidemiologist, led the Office of Communicable Diseases, and worked hands-on in county health department clinics caring for pregnant women and infants.
Under Dr. Currier’s leadership, MSDH dramatically lowered the state’s tuberculosis rate, opened the state-of-the-art Dr. F.E. “Ed” Thompson State Public Health Laboratory, and was awarded national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.
This month – and every month – we’re grateful for our MARYs and their roles in public health history in Mississippi!
Do you ever feel like God isn’t answering your prayers?
It might feel like God is ignoring you when He doesn’t answer your prayers the way you’re hoping.
But Scripture offers us insights as to why God might appear to be silent.
One verse that I’ve found most helpful in my own life – when it comes to unanswered prayer – is Psalm 84:11, in which the Psalmist said “No good thing will [God] withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
I find three principles (and loads of encouragement) in this verse for why God might not be answering my prayer or yours.
God’s idea of a “good thing” might be different than ours.
God is waiting for us to be obedient.
It isn’t the right time.
We aren’t asking in faith.
God has something better for us than what we are asking for.
God has promised that, when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will for our lives, He will give us what we ask for ( 1 John 5:14–15 ).
John C. Johnson is a student-focused instructional leader dedicated to creating positive learning environments and making a significant impact on scholars’ lives.
John currently leads the number one Elementary School in the state of Mississippi, Barack H. Obama Magnet School.
As the administrator of an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, John understands the importance of cultivating the emotional and social development of scholars that are intellectually curious, globally aware, and respectful.
He previously served as an assistant principal at Marshall Elementary in Jackson Public Schools.
For more than two decades, John has worked as a building administrator, serving the following school districts: Canton Public School District, Scott County School District, Vicksburg-Warren School District, and Jackson Public School District.
John started his career as a 6th-grade English teacher at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School in Morton, Mississippi.
John has adapted his leadership and administrative abilities to a range of roles throughout his 23 years in the field of education.
John’s responsibilities include directing athletics programs, coordinating safety programs, professional development training, and collaborating with representatives of parent-teacher organizations.
John is a Mississippi native and attended Scott County Public Schools.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Tougaloo College, a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University and a Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from William Carey University.
John is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Belhaven University.
Proverbs 15:13 – A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
“Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.”
“The most beautiful Smile is the one that struggles through Tears.”
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2Corinthians 9:7
Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Kenwuan (Ken) Meeks has honorably served 21 years in the United States Navy and is proud to be called a veteran. He fought in the “Iraqi Freedom Campaign” war in 2004 and received a Joint Accommodation Medal.
He is a published author of 2 books. One that was very recognizable across the state of Mississippi to honor mothers across the nation titled, “Quotes My Grandmother Used to Say”.
Ken was always passionate about giving back to the state of Mississippi and decided to start several charity organizations.
In 2017, he organized the Men in Mississippi and Women in Mississippi organization. The organization consisted of known professionals across the state.
He has mentored young men in schools to mention: Cleveland Central High, Coahoma Community College, Ole Miss and many more.
Meeks also organized the Southern Gun Violence Awareness walk in 2017.
Each year many organizations to include, Moms Demand Action join Ken to fight against gun violence. In 2018, he spoke against the gang violence and organized meetings to stop crime.
Ken has now created a talk show titled the, “The Ken Meeks Show” were he interviewed celebrities like Michael Blackson, Michael Jai White, CoCoa Brown, Rodney Perry, Mike Hill and many more.
His platform was created to give those who have a voice a chance to reach other young men and women.
Thank you, Mr. Meeks, for your service in your community and throughout the state of Mississippi. 🎉
Passionate, dedicated, driven, loving, hardworking, and intelligent are only a sample of words which epitomize the woman, Linda Short.
Linda has spent her life in service and commitment to others.
As a lifelong resident of Mayersville, MS, she was elected Mayor, June 6, 2001, and has served for eighteen years.
As mayor, Linda has worked tirelessly to improve life for the residents of her town including advocating for healthy living.
With this effort, the Town of Mayersville became the 2nd smoke-free community in the state.
Each year she is extremely excited about the Mayersville Annual Homecoming festival of which she is the co-founder.
Linda’s achievements include: Board chair of WISSCA; Board chair of the Tobacco-Free coalition (receiving the Partnering Program of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards); and Supervisory Community Secretary, Issaquena County Federal Credit Union.
Linda’s leadership and service are complemented by her tenacity, sense of strength, and love for her family and friends.
Linda is extremely proud of her many accomplishments and the impact she has on her community and beyond, but her greatest joy comes from her family.
She is the youngest daughter of the late Saul and Edie B. Williams.
Her husband of twenty-seven years, Larry D. Short, is the love of her life and rock.
She is the loving mother of James Jr., JaSona, Jeremy, Kiara, Katerri and the late Jercelle and extremely proud grandmother of thirteen.
She has been a member of Rose Hill Church for forty-seven years where she serves as Senior Choir Director.
She is also the owner of her family’s business, Tony’s Grocery, and Co-Owner of Celle’s Estate Housing Complex. Linda’s motto is: “Always service over self.”
Dr. Pam Chatman is predestined to be great. She’s serving all mankind just like Civil Right Activist, Fannie Lou Hamer.
Dr. Chatman has received the Harriet Tubman Award for her courageous leadership and uses her voice to find and create sustainable opportunities for families in the Delta by the Mississippi Magnolia Bar Association.
She has received the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service award from the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for her community outreach.
She was recently given the Humanitarian Of the Year award in Scottsdale, Arizona by the Women Doing It Big Organization.
Dr. Chatman recently has been nominated as one of the 2023 Women Who Change the World Award.
She is Mississippi’s First Black Woman News Director.
Dr. Chatman is recognized as one of Mississippi most Influential Women in Business.
Dr Chatman organization Boss Lady Economic Planning Development Workforce Transportation is a true Grassroot Organization in which they waste no time in executing issues that need their services on the ground to make a difference.
This organization has assisted nearly 4000+ families in the Mississippi Delta with Jobs, Transportation, Workforce Transportation, Housing, Home Improvements, Food, Medication Assistance, and Rent/Utilities Assistance in the Mississippi Delta.
50 years ago on January 6th, 1973, Schoolhouse Rock made its debut on the ABC television 📺 network. It was an American interstitial programming series of animated musical educational short films (and later, music videos) that aired during the Saturday morning children’s programming block on the U.S. television network ABC.
The themes covered included grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics. The series’ original run lasted from 1973 to 1984; it was later revived from 1993 to 1996.
Additional episodes were produced in 2009 for direct-to-video release. Schoolhouse Rock! debuted as a series in January 1973 with Multiplication Rock, a collection of animated music videos adapting the multiplication tables to songs written by Bob Dorough.
Dorough also performed most of the songs, with Grady Tate performing two and Blossom Dearie performing one during this season. General Foods was the series’ first sponsor; later sponsors of the Schoolhouse Rock! segments also included Nabisco, Kenner Toys, Kellogg’s, and McDonald’s.
During the early 1970s, Schoolhouse Rock was one of several short-form animated educational shorts that aired on ABC’s children’s lineup; others included Time for Timer and The Bod Squad.
Of the three, Schoolhouse Rock was the longest-running. It continues to entertain children and adults all over the world and the whole series was released in video cassette and on DVD 📀.
Happy 50th anniversary to Schoolhouse Rock, one of the most popular and long running running animated short series of all time on the ABC television network.
Dr. Williams is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder/Owner of Urgent & Primary Care Clinic of Clarksdale, the first Urgent & Primary Care Clinic in Coahoma County.
She has spent her entire life building strong working relationships in the healthcare field and educating people on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Williams received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Williams has been named one of the Top 50 Leading Businesswomen in the State of Mississippi. She has received numerous awards in healthcare.
She credits all her achievements to her strong foundation in God. She is a member of Iota Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she currently serves as the Business Manager and immediate past chapter president. Her motto is “Write your Story.”
Dr. Williams, thank you for serving the people of the 2nd Congressional District! Your hard work does not go unnoticed.🎉
Last night, my husband accidentally knocked a wine glass over and it smashed to pieces on the floor. I wasn’t there to see him do it but I heard the crash. He proceeded to clean up and checked for pieces and after being satisfied that he’d got every piece he went to bed for the night.
Now, I tend to get up and do random things at night around the house so I got up and went to the laundry room. As I went through the kitchen, I saw a couple of pretty nice size pieces of glass.
Honestly, my first response was irritation… I mean it seemed so careless, and what if one of the boys would have gotten up and gone to the kitchen and stepped on a shard?
I was becoming increasingly upset when I heard in my spirit a voice of correction saying, ” Aren’t you the helpmeet?”
With this rhetorical question I understood that I should be glad that I was up to pick up what he missed. I re-swept the floor and began moving things around in case pieces had managed to ricochet off somewhere else. I found quite a few.
This is marriage. Our spouses may not always get it right even with their very best efforts, but a true helpmeet sees where there is lack and makes up the difference.
It’s not always time to complain, sometimes it’s time complete.
There’s nothing quite like the magic of a new beginning.
The Scriptures often speak of a fresh start or new beginning. We are reminded of this at the onset of earth’s history, for “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
The apostle John uses similar language with regard the role of Christ in all of this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God And the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)
A new beginning can come in the form of a promotion or career change. It might be moving to a new city – or even a new country. It might be starting a new relationship.
It might also be venturing out on your own for a while, seeking to form a deeper relationship with your own mind, body, and soul.
And sometimes, a new beginning is as simple as waking up to a new day. A day you’ve never met before. A day where anything is possible. A day where miracles are present all around you, if you choose to open your eyes and look for them.
Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.
“Auld Lang Syne” is an old Scottish poem that later became a song. But what’s the Meaning Of Auld Lang Syne, and why do people sing it on New Year’s Eve?
The song “Auld Lang Syne” comes from a Robert Burns poem; who was the national poet of Scotland and wrote the poem in 1788, but it wasn’t published until 1799—three years after his death.
Robert Burns
To fully understand the meaning of Auld Long Syne, you need to read the lyrics carefully. They are listed in the next section below.
First Verse: The first verse of Auld Lang Syne is a rhetorical question: “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” No they shouldn’t, but if you don’t know the lyrics, then you may not realize that this line is a question. A common mistake, is thinking that the line is just “old acquaintance be forgot”.
Chorus: Loosely translated, Auld Long Syne means “the good old days”. So the chorus is basically just saying grab a “cup of kindness” and ‘let’s drink to the good old days’.
Additional Verses: The next few verses remember the fun that we’ve had with our acquaintances, like hiking, boating and more drinking… of course.
Auld Lang Syne is a hard song to memorize. As a result, when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, people will try to fake their way through the lyrics without understanding the meaning of Auld Lang Syne.
Over the centuries, singing Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve became a Scottish tradition. And then from Scotland, it slowly spread to other parts of the British Isles.
Then as people from the United Kingdom emigrated around the world, they took the New Year’s Eve song and it’s tradition with them.
Years later, it’s now customary in many English-speaking counties to sing Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to the old year. The song is also commonly heard at funerals, graduations, and other formal occasions as a way to say goodbye.
Jesus says, ” I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Jesus is the reason for the season becauseHe brings hope to both bleak and bustling lives, for those of us in the darkness and those who’ve simply forgotten to slow down and enjoy the presence and love of our Savior.
John 14:6 is one of my favorite verses because it lays out for us rather beautifully who Jesus is and how we can seek Him this sweet and special season and throughout the year.
While this beloved verse is in reference to the Last Supper when Jesus soothes the disciples’ concerns and offers them comfort, the words proclaimed here can also bring us comfort and peace during the Christmas season.
In fully recognizing who Jesus is and that He holds our future and fate in His hands, we can see that God wants us to do more than go through the motions, hold fast to unrealistic expectations we put upon ourselves and others or grab for that magical “feeling.”
God is inviting us to pause and reflect on the great love He has for us in the wonderful gift of His Son.
We must understand that the catchy and rather trendy catchphrase “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” is more than a platitude we hang on our wall or something we simply say.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
I grew up in MS and never once thought I was raised by lower income parents during a time when most everyone treated each other with respect.
We didn’t eat a lot of fast food because it was considered a treat, not a food group. We drank Kool-Aid made from water that came from our kitchen sink with real sugar.
We ate bologna sandwiches, or even tuna (which was in a can not a pouch), PB&J & grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, pot pies, but mostly homemade meals consisting of meat, potatoes, vegetables, bread, butter, and homemade dessert.
We grew up during a time when we babysat, helped neighbors with chores to be able to earn our own money.
We went outside a lot to play ~ kickball, basketball, dodgeball, rode bikes, ran with friends & played hide and seek.
We drank tap water from the sink… bottled water was unheard of. If we had a coke – it was in a glass bottle … and we didn’t break the bottle when finished.
We watched TV shows like Good Times, The Jefferson’s, Bonanza, Alf, Different Strokes, Full House, Leave It To Beaver, Gilligan’s Island, Happy Days, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, The Rifleman, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Sanford and Son, Dukes of Hazzard, WWF Wrestling, and I Love Lucy.
After school, we came home and did homework and chores, before going outside or having friends over. We had to tell our parents where we were going, who we were going with, and be home when the street lights came on!
You LEARNED from your parents instead of disrespecting them, and treating them as if they knew absolutely nothing.
What they said was LAW, and you did not question it, and you had better know it!!!
We watched what we said around our elders because we knew if we DISRESPECTED any grown-up we would get our behinds whipped, it wasn’t called abuse, it was called discipline!
We held doors opened, carried groceries, and gave up our seat for an older person without being asked. You didn’t hear curse words on the radio in songs or TV, and if you cursed and got caught you had a bar of soap stuck in your mouth.
“Please, Thank you, yes please, no thank you, yes ma’am, no ma’am yes sir, and no sir were part of our daily vocabulary!
The world we live in now is just so full of broken people, haters, disrespectful people with no integrity, fake people, selfish people, and clout chasers.
But oh, what a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
The power of positive thinking is one of the major habits of successful people. When you practice positive thinking, you become better at setting the right goals and better at achieving them. Positivity boosts your mental and physical health, changing the way you interact with others.
Even if you know all this, it can be tricky to change entrenched patterns of negative thinking. Becoming a positive person can seem challenging. Sometimes you may have wondered if you’re just immune to the power of positive thinking.
Negative thinking is learned behavior throughout your life experiences. Becoming a positive thinker, you will need to be intentional in your thinking.
Cope with stress faster and more effectively – instead of dwelling on the negative, positive people look for solutions. And when we find solutions, stress starts to dissipate.
Improved health – there’s evidence that positive thoughts boost resistance to disease and improves the ability to recover from health setbacks.
Better relationships with people – we’re all drawn to positive people, so being positive brings more people into our lives. With a positive attitude, we’re also better at communication and negotiation.
Become more focused – with the power of positive thinking, you’re driven to achieve the things that matter to you. You can tune out the noise, and ‘tune in’ to what needs to be done.
Feel more confidence – positivity extends to your view of yourself and your value, boosting your self-worth. The more positive you are, the more you believe in your own potential and give yourself opportunities to fulfill it.
Be more successful – as a positive person, you not only attract success through the Law of Attraction but are also better at networking and at inspiring others.
Experience more happiness – it stands to reason that being positive brings you joy, optimism, and satisfaction. When you have a positive mindset, you notice and appreciate the beautiful things in life.
The more positive you are, the more you pull positive people, opportunities, and choices into your life. You begin to vibrate on a frequency of abundance.
The abundance in your life only makes you feel more positive. Conceptualized in this way, there’s no limit to how happy you can be, or how much goodness you can attract.
Some people feel that you can’t compare the love a mother has for her child to the love a father could feel for him.
They say that a woman’s life changes, her body changes, and she sacrifices every little nutrient she has, to offer to the baby.
What they don’t understand is that a mother and father’s type of love can be different, never inferior.
Those people don’t understand that the man’s body also transforms, and his mind will never be the same again.
They do not understand that, while the mother is devoted 24/7 to taking care of her son and helping him survive, the father is devoted in body and soul in turn, to help them both so that, in this struggle, they do not lack anything.
The mother starts her battle: to be the best mom in the world.
Father starts his battle – to take care of them.
And so begin the broad working days, nights at night looking for better alternatives to build a better future, mental and even physical absences, betting everything to work, because deep down you know that, at that time, it is the best way she finds to combat her fears.
Because being a parent entails the same goal: the mother cares eternally for her children, and the father cares eternally for his family. Some people don’t understand that, within parenthood, there is no competition.
Mother’s love is unconditional and lasts for entirety of life. Get inspired with this beautiful story about Mother’s love for her child.
A man was offered a job in another state.
He decided to take his mother to a local nursing home.
For the first three months, he came to see her every weekend.
But then he kept getting busier and busier.
He even worked on Saturday to have a higher salary at the end of the month.
Traveling such a long way to his home state every weekend started to feel like a burden to him.
It has been a very long time since he last saw his mother … One day he received a phone call from the nursing home.
“Please come to visit!” The nurse said to him with a very serious tone.
He arrived to find that the condition of his mother was very critical.
Her illness has gotten much more serve while he was busy earning money, He sat down beside her bed, took her hand and said, “Mom, please tell me what can I do for you?”
His heart ached with sadness and regret. He knew she might not make it to tomorrow.
“My son, can you install fans in the nursing home? There’s no fans here,” she said.
“Also put a fridge for betterment for food. There’s many time I have to sleep without food.”
The son was completely taken by surprise as he listened to her.
“Mom, while you were here you never complained about those things.”
“Now when you have only a few hours left, why are you telling me all of this?” he questioned.
The mother gave him a gentle smile, “My dear, I’m alright with heat, hunger and pain.”
“But when you get old and your children send you here, I’m afraid you will not be able to manage.”
The son broke into tears. He bent down to hug his mother asking for her forgiveness.
Love your parents and treat them with loving and care. For you will only know their value when you see their empty chair.
When our parents were there we never cared.
When we wanted to take care of them, they aren’t there.
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline–1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a “Dear John” letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified.
Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.
“Operator,” I began, “this is an unusual request. I’m trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?”
She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, “Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can’t give you the number.” She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. “I have a party who will speak with you.”
I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, “Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!”
“Would you know where that family could be located now?” I asked.
“I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago,” the woman said. “Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter.”
She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living. I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, “Yes, Hannah is staying with us. “
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her.
“Well,” he said hesitatingly, “if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television.”
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, “Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael.”
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, “I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor.”
“Yes,” she continued. “Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And,” she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, “tell him I still love him. You know,” she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, “I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael…”
I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, “Was the old lady able to help you?”
I told him she had given me a lead. “At least I have a last name. But I think I’ll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet.”
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, “Hey, wait a minute!
That’s Mr. Goldstein’s wallet. I’d know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He’s always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times.”
“Who’s Mr. Goldstein?” I asked as my hand began to shake.
“He’s one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That’s Mike Goldstein’s wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks.” I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse’s office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, “I think he’s still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He’s a darling old man.”
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, “Oh, it is missing!”
“This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?”
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, “Yes, that’s it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet.”
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. “You read that letter?”
“Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is.”
He suddenly grew pale. “Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me,” he begged.
“She’s fine…just as pretty as when you knew her.” I said softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, “Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow.”
He grabbed my hand and said, “You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I’ve always loved her.”
“Mr. Goldstein,” I said, “Come with me.”
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.
“Hannah,” she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. “Do you know this man?”
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn’t say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, “Hannah, it’s Michael. Do you remember me?”
She gasped, “Michael! I don’t believe it! Michael! It’s you! My Michael!”
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
“See,” I said. “See how the Good Lord works! If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. “Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!”
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall.
They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.
“Letter in the Wallet,” written by Arnold Fine (1985)
It seems to me the road called life, Is a windy, bumpy road. It’s not easy like told in fairytales, Life can’t be changed by kissing a toad.
Instead we must weigh the odds, About every decision we make. We worry we’ll make the wrong choice, And not know which way to take.
Although life’s road may have many crossroads, We just have to trust in God and instinct. Life may be a constant question mark, But if you listen you may hear yourself.
You are the one who knows You, And the God given gifts that inspire you. No matter the fear or the conflict, If you listen, life will fit like a shoe.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ~ Ephesians 4:29
Give to yourself, give back to others, and enable everyone you interact with to feel this warmth of encouragement.
You should be your own greatest supporter, your most trusted confidante, your loyal cheerleader.
If you can’t give yourself the benefit of the doubt, you’ll only wind up disappointed with your failures and negligences, because you create them for yourself.
It’s crucial to your own success, your own happiness, that you do not stand in your own way.
Treat yourself with the same love and respect you want others to treat you with.
Don’t forget to build others up, too.
The simple knowledge that someone else believes you can, makes all the difference.
Be the one who stokes the fire of others’ passions, who inspires another’s creativity.
We all get so caught up in what we’re not doing and what we don’t have, that we forget to appreciate all we do have, what we have achieved.
Lady G Adventures 