After 21 years of marriage, my wife woman out to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. The other woman was my mother, who has been a widow(寡妇)for 19 years. However, the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That Friday after work, when I arrived at her house, my mother was waiting in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and comfortable. My mother took my arm as if she were! The First Lady. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation about nothing extraordinary but just caught up on recent events. We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said: "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. A few days later, my mother died of a serious heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.
Sometime later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt (收据）from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; still, I paid for two plates—one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you. Son."
At mat moment, I understood the importance of saying: UI love you" and of giving our loved ones the time they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than family. Give family members the attention they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till some "other' time.
