T O P I C R E V I E W |
Sitnalta |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 08:00:45 AM I received this story in my email and thought it was very inspiring and it reminded me (and if you will pardon my sentiment) my Linda, a rose. There are a lot of new girls on the forum so many of you may not have had the precious gift that I did of knowing Linda. She was a beautiful dynamic woman who brought smiles and thoughtful in any post she set to type. She has been on my mind a lot lately.With tears of sadness but also of joy to know her sturggles are over, Oh how I miss her!! As she always asked, we do remember her as A ROSE.
hugs Jessie
The first day of > school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone > we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my > shoulder. > >I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a >smile that lit up her entire being.. > >She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I >give you a hug?' > >I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave >me a giant squeeze.. > >'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. > >She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have >a couple of kids...' > >'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking >on this challenge at her age. > >'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she >told me. > >After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate >milkshake. > >We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave >class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time >machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.. > >Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made >friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she revelled in the attention >bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. > >At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. >I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the >podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by >five cards on the floor. >
Frustrated >and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm >sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! >I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' > >As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because >we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. > >There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. >You have to laugh and find humour every day. You've got to have a dream. When >you lose your dreams, you die. > >We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! > >There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. > >If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do >one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years >old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. > >Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea >is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. > >The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things >we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..' > >She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.' > >She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily >lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those >months ago. > >One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. > >Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful >woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly > be. > >When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your >friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! > >These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE
I think housework would be ever so much easier if I had those nifty Jedi powers. :)
Farmgirl Sister #235 |
4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Jun 12 2010 : 08:55:07 AM I too, received this e-mail and I still love to read it. It is truly inspiring, thanks for sharing.
Age only matters if you are wine or cheese. http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/ farmgirl sister #922 |
TeresaJ25 |
Posted - Jun 12 2010 : 04:56:09 AM I did not have the honor of knowing your friend, I wish I did. There are certain people in this world that have lasting impacts on our lives no matter how brief the time spent together was.
~Teresa Farmgirl Sister #1348
*Anyone can criticize and complain and predict doom and gloom. Be the person who fills the room with sunshine! |
Marcy |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 09:28:37 AM Jessie,
Thank you so much for sharing this. I miss Linda as well, as I am sure we all do.
Farmgirl #170
Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give...Eleanor Roosevelt
http://marcysworldofcreativity.blogspot.com/
|
Marybeth |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 08:48:53 AM Beautiful, Jess. We miss her too. MB
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
|
|