Dusty Roads to the Heart

The holiday seasons are once again upon us. This year I know the true meaning that they hold.  This year I know how to be truly happy during this season . This year I know that happiness doesn't come wrapped in beautiful paper with bows. It doesn't come in turkey around the table. It doesn't come sitting in front of the fireplace.  These things do bring happiness, don't get me wrong. It is just that these things mean more to me this year because of a friend I ran into a couple years ago. She took me to the other side of the holidays. She told me her story on how she became truly happy. So sit back and enjoy as I share her story with you. As we take you to the other side of the holidays. It was the day before Thanksgiving.  As she made her way into town, down Crawford street, and onto First, she was noticing the red, blue, white Christmas lights hanging in the small trees that lined the streets. She was heading to a little simple duplex where her Hospice patient was w

Do you know what you did for me... that day? Do you know what your friendly smile did for me...that day? Do you know what you did for me when you walked just a little ways out of your way and called me by name, asking "How's your day going my friend?" No....I don't think you did. I know that you didn't. I know because we were strangers really. We had only meant one afternoon when you were eating your lunch at Morrison House where you stayed while your friend was in the hospital. I happened to be volunteering that afternoon. As you ate along with two other families, you shared your friends story with us. The other families shared their stories, and a friendship must of evolved between us. A friendship that caused you to reach out to me when my world was tumbling down around me. "That day" I was working in the surgery family room. I was secretly having a stressful afternoon. My heart was aching and I was feeling a bit on edge. I was smiling, but insi

Her cell phone jingled, breaking into the silence of her living room.  She grabbed it and read his name across the top. "Hello" she whispered into it as she held it close to her ear. "Hi honey....we made it." She heard him say at the other end, sending her mind and heart traveling back in time to the two story farm house of her childhood. Her mind traveled back some forty plus years ago to that kitchen table where she sat surrounded by her dad, mom, sisters and little brother. She had just got a "boyfriend."  It was the talk of the family. Her family. They were so happy for her. He was so "special". There at that table that night of long ago, her dad sat slightly bent over, quietly spooning the potato soup into his mouth, as he listened to the chatter and chuckles of the kids and mom, as they talked about their day. She sat there half listening to the chatter, half listening for the ringing of the telephone that sat on the desk just aro