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WellKnownAuthor 61M
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11/22/2018 9:59 am
HIS GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!


HIS GREATEST GIFT

Rarely since it's historic Gothic Revival Style doors had first opened on May 25, 1879, had the gloriously toned bells of New York City's St. Patricks Cathedral been known to chime on a common Saturday.

For whenever this exception did manage to unwantingly happen, it was always simply for deserved tribute,homage and memory of the passing of only a great one truly deserving to be both honored and remembered. Such, as in the legacy of New York City Diocese Arch Bishop Fulton J Sheen who sadly passed in December of 1979.

However shamefull, a handsome six diget hand delivered check to within the confines of a far away Vatican city, brought swift and direct word from it to the New York Arch Diocese. When the just married socialite bride and groom stopped on the top steps facing Rockefeller Center to pose for the long prearranged media and private photo taking shoots, let the rest of uninvited New Yorks mid town and beyond summer travelers pause in a pure state of curious wonderment and total envy to hear the majestic bells from above!

Far removed from those high crowded marble cathedral steps and standing proudly on the rather plain Madison Avenue sidewalk, stood an old man who looked and was greatly out of place.

His old and only owned suit, worn for the first time since the passing of his beloved Maria still bearing the silver dollar sized stain from the badly failed attempt to sip a bit of chocolate milk held in his trembling hands to settle his quesey stomach at his Maria's wake. The water soaked paper napkin administered by a helpful unknown to him lady well afterwards, had miserably failed to do its intended job some 29 years before!

Perhaps forty yards away, the gelding Grey pranced nerviously as the hired Marraige coach driver with both harsh whip and voice attempted to steady him and to calm him down. The restless Bays muscles were tightly contracted in a combined mixure of fear and from thousands of untold hours of developement pulling that same hardwood and metal polished European carraige repeatidly around the same Central Park circut. No one knew or even suspected, how much those amplified bell vibrations hurt his sensitive large unaccustomed equestrian ears.

The next fifteen minutes passed much to slowly for the old man. Finally he chose to quietly leave those festivities looking back one last time at his now distant grandson Dean and his brand new and very stunning looking dark long haired new bride.

The almost overhead bright late summer July sun seemed to shed an awakening golden like light worthy of a masterful painting suited to be framed. Yes Hemmingways classic book For Whom the Bell Tolls came to the old mans mind as the driver slowly opened the Checker Cabs rear curbside door for him.

Void of practically any real learning, the old man had read Hemmingway's book when but a boy shorty after World War 2 had ended. Some decades later, his beloved Maria, had hand embroided in flawless thin white tapestry yarn upon a large rich ocean blue patch of silk backing, the famous poem of the very same name that never failed to make him smile at her and squint his proud eyes to keep back forming tears even though joyfull.

This six week knitting journey of task from his dear Maria, so symbolic of their deep love and understanding of each other, had always proudly hung on the wall above the headboard of his twin bed.

It was dear to his heart and that night of the tragic fire, the young fireman handed him part of its charred remains, while the remains of Maria were removed through the still heavily smoking almost unreconizeable battered in back door.

Many long and lonely years spent with cherished memories and salty fallen tears had passed since then. It was during this time, another family member also suffered the sad pangs of loneliness. Yes the old mans own grown always far too busy and occupied in greedily gaining more tell tale wealth in his fledging teamster related trucking business on the Jersey side of the bridges, was almost totally neglecting his Dean.

So as the wonderfully loud perfectily blending four toned sounds of the imported bells of St. Patrick's Cathedral grew fainter and fainter, the old mans memory gradually faded and shifted from his Maria and now began to focus way back to his newly married grandson Dean who back then was but a lad of only nine years.

Needing love and attention from the voids of his own dads attention, grandpas modest county three room green pondside bungalow served useful purpose. Gramps was 57 that first year of Deans summer visits during his school vacation. The 12 foot lap streaked john boat became a place of great enjoyment for the both of them to happily share.

Always his aging grandfather harbored an endless of wonderful interesting stories containing such useful knowledge and valuable lessons on life itself. Combined with the large ponds stunted but fiesty trout, bass and pickeral hungry populations, each summer vacation day, come rain or shine at gramps country cabin, brought such joy to gramps and his only grandchild young Dean!

He would grow somewhat older before he began to clearly recognize the rift and distantness his dad held for gramps. To him there seemed no real or sound reasons to cause any of this. For gramps was a wonderful man, a widower who looked after his own self, asked for nothing and was totally capable of complete independence.

His ways modest and fruegal compared to the mansion his dad and really distant new step mom Anita resided in. Material things while enjoyable at times. meant little to young Dean. So as the years slipped by, his summer visits to grandpa's heavenly pond, became shorter and shorter as prep school, his cadet classes, and his newly arranged summer soccer league served as barriers.

Dean was amost 15 when in a fit of rage over a failed hostle takeover attempt by a group of minor stockholders, his father had stopped his summer visit to gramps entirely by creating a series of bold lies about him being off of his rocker and totally untrustworthy.

It would be the last time that Dean would openly cry unashamed as his father broke his ugly stick fishing rod into five different pieces and told him only girls enjoyed pond fishing!

Via the magic of time, Dean at age 17 1/2. went off to college as a boy. Some four years later when capped, he had indeed grown and blossomed into manhood. In between were some wonderful and bold memories of fun and adventure shared with his fraternity of adopted brothers.

Gramps images had faded but for a few now and then handwritten letters. Yes the cabin needed new shingles, and weed growth had greatly changed the face of the pond. The winters seemed a bit colder as gramps began to wear gloves even while inside with the black cast iron woodstove active.

Arriving at the plush reception facility, Dean left his already overbearing bride for a short time once all the huge guest list members were contently in their designated seats at each of the long rows of plush tables.

Color coded name tags carefully placed at each table setting were to be worn so that both brides and grooms sides would get to meet and mingle to make the receiption far more united and socially cozy.

Only his own as well as gramps seat were now empty as nearby, Gill his best man and former college roommate awaited Deans approvel to make the traditonal toast. Standing at gramps empty seat, Dean picked up the plain sealed yellowish envelope that bore his grandads same firmilar distinct handwriting,

It was not the time nor proper place to read it, so he tucked it into his tuxedo's inside pocket and soon became caught up trying to carry out the all too common expectations and protocalls brides and grooms and wedding parties were expected and obligated to perform.

Later after the meal, cake cutting, traditional family dancing and then gift opening, Dean and Jennifer Thorpe, would leave via the hired open handsome awaiting carraige to embark upon a three week travel honeymoon thru most of eastern Europe and then onto Rome. Every now and then during rare quiet non commited moments, Dean couldn't help but to think and wonder with a strong degree of alarmed worry, what had happened to his Gramps???

His calls or messages back home to his dad, were never responded to nor answered. It was Silvia the Thorpe's head maid that nerviously handed him the yellowish sealed mailing envelope when they were at last alone!

Upon learning that he would open it when his wife Jennifer left to fetch her hope chest back at her families large metro estate, Maid Silvia informed him that his grandfather had quietly and peacefully passed away wearing a broad smile while in a taxi on its way to his reception ceremony.

His last words to the cab driver and summoned foot patrolman ,were to place this envelope, his humble wedding gift on his reception placemat so that Dean his beloved grandson would surly get it as it as now it was finally time to join his LOVELY MARIA on such a wonderful day! Those beautiful church bells suddenly could be heard clearly again but only by him! That hand written letter read exactly as follows:

To my beloved and wonderful grandson:

Who can run tirelessly into in the very face of the wind !

Who can truly admire his reflective image proudly upon the face of any mirror !

Whose beautiful radiant bride is truly worthly to be pained by Divinci himself !

Who has a full adventuresome lifetime of discovery and miracles awaiting him !

Who has grown from uncertainty into a state of confidence in meeting challenge !

Who views the miracle of life with appreciation and never ending wonderment !

Who now knows the joys of pure love and has tasted the richness of life itself !

Who as but a boy in an old drifting plain john boat, understood the splended visions I painted into his head.

While I could only plant sweet dreams into your mind, your father provided you with the means to accomplish and meet challenge by removing all barriers. He is but himself dear Dean, who will not change nor want to ever change a single thing about himself!

Accept him complete with his many selfish faults and false values and admire only his good qualities of which there indeed are many!

I on the other hand, have but one thing I can offer you. For soon my dream of the bells my wonderful Maria will ring for me, will deliver me forever into her warm welcoming wonderful heavenly arms.

Under the back step of the old fishing camp, is a small chest of collected parchement papers. They contain a lifetime of the Greatest gifts ever to grace the face of this good earth.

A collection of Great peoples legacies known for their vast good deeds and accomplishments that enhanced all of mankind during both their times upon this earth and all future times as well..

Yes dear Dean, ALL THE VAST WISDOM OF THE WORLD collected by and passed on from your grandmother and myself. Use it to grow, to prospher, to enrich and to make your life here on earth, a living testiment to God and his creation of all mankind!

Love and never Hate !

Give and never look to selfishly Take !

Pass on to all of your future , the very qualities my Maria bestowed onto me !.

I think I hear Maria's distant bells drawing nearer. Maybe there are endless things throughout God's Wonderful Kingdom of heaven? But one thing I do know with a one hundred percent degree of certainty is that:

TOTAL ETERNAL HAPPINESS IS BEING REUNITED THROUGHOUT THE

PASSAGE OF ALL TIME WITH ONE'S SOULMATE !

FOREVER LASTING SHALL MARIA AND I SHARE THIS GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES TOGETHER! FOR IT IS

GODS GREATEST GIFT

written by Dan M. for a slowly dying with ALS distant online friend in New York City. I never even met Ben in person.

Back then he was already suffering greatly in life perhaps seeking guidance, faith and the conviction of hope this story delivered to him viaa Yahoo. E-mail one of over 2000 exchanged between us over the many years! True courage is total conviction of ones deeply instilled beliefs!

My friend Ben resides in upper Manhattan a few blocks for St. Patricks.. This story is based upon his own life with a father much like Deans. Yes truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/22/2018 10:02 am

Not realizing any copyright notice will be banned, I placed mine under my title
His greatest Gift and thus it was deleted after being posted for some 8 plus hours


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/22/2018 10:05 am

Hopes this blog gets repostted as its one my best short stories.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/22/2018 10:10 am

Did my turkey dinner with all the trimmings last Thursday in Advance. Three days fo feasting were great.

So today it"s Maine lobster, cherry stones both steamed and raw on the half shell. deep sea fried scallops, great tossed salad, sweet potato and strawberry shortcake for desert!


MrsJoe 76F
17309 posts
11/22/2018 10:54 am

The original one showed up.

Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/22/2018 11:00 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    The original one showed up.
thank you. can you help me Mrs Joe......my blog profile wont post,

it says when i try to do its setting,,,,,,,,,,,,doesnt post... I cant put a photo or blog name description for some reason.

have tried dozens of times and it gets rejected>

also this blog did not show on my blog lobby once they deleted it.

i put my copyrights notice of ownership under the title and their bot programs deleted it...this site does not work like thier other sites..???? thank you,,..


sewg1941 82F

11/22/2018 11:58 am

    Quoting WellKnownAuthor:
    thank you. can you help me Mrs Joe......my blog profile wont post,

    it says when i try to do its setting,,,,,,,,,,,,doesnt post... I cant put a photo or blog name description for some reason.

    have tried dozens of times and it gets rejected>

    also this blog did not show on my blog lobby once they deleted it.

    i put my copyrights notice of ownership under the title and their bot programs deleted it...this site does not work like thier other sites..???? thank you,,..
Do NOT post anything on this site that you don't want stolen. This is a low-class dating site and anything and everything posted on here is up for grabs. Ya live ... Ya learn!


MrsJoe 76F
17309 posts
11/22/2018 12:45 pm

    Quoting WellKnownAuthor:
    thank you. can you help me Mrs Joe......my blog profile wont post,

    it says when i try to do its setting,,,,,,,,,,,,doesnt post... I cant put a photo or blog name description for some reason.

    have tried dozens of times and it gets rejected>

    also this blog did not show on my blog lobby once they deleted it.

    i put my copyrights notice of ownership under the title and their bot programs deleted it...this site does not work like thier other sites..???? thank you,,..
I don't think any of us understands how SFF postings work.... some days are diamonds, and some days are stone! One time it might work on the first try, and on other times may take several tries.
On the "edit your blog settings" tab, it should give you the option of naming your blog. Try first to give your blog a unique name. It might take awhile for it to show up as changed, and it might show up right away. Who ever knows about stuff in SFF?
Once you get that to change for you, you could try writing the blog description. Mine is quite short, but I've seen some that are almost a blog in themselves and very interesting. See Hawkslayers and Fossilfetcher's as examples.
As far as copyright notice, I'm not sure how to handle that. Perhaps just a sentence at the end mentioning that it is copyrighted.... and use a different spelling or symbol to replace a letter might get it through the bots.
With the advent of the internet, I'm sure that copyright becomes very difficult to enforce anyway.... so if you are truly worried about material being stolen, might be best to not post it.
Oh, and one other thing..... some of us appreciate if a blogger marks their blogs as visible to only SFF members. This is supposed to make it not show up on an internet search engine.
Good luck, and if at first you don't succeed.............


Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/22/2018 9:40 pm

    Quoting sewg1941:
    Do NOT post anything on this site that you don't want stolen. This is a low-class dating site and anything and everything posted on here is up for grabs. Ya live ... Ya learn!
thanks hun.................i own the copyrights on most of my better stuff i have writen.

I have been posting mag articles and blogs since 2004 some 14 years now on many of the friends network muitl sites.

Some of my postings have been published and distributed both here in America as well as foreign soils and i have gained monetary values from them.

Thus in following my publishers obligations, I can post my original not edited works that have different wordings or typo mistakes that need correcting.

Some by plan contain misspelled words so as to compare to any pirate copies.

Thank you for caring and your advice. appreciated and always welcomed.

Dan ps I had posted my copyright under the title.........SFF has a build in monitoring robot that pics up on the phrase copy rite........and automatically deletes it......

That's what happened here.. This story per human interest has won me two small modest

This story has won me two small modest awards some four years back.

I have others I will post but also have some I can't due to time periods attached to
have to conform too. ie--4 years, ie---7 years ect.

As fors low class, I judge not social wealth but the elements of goodness, honesty and respect for others..........these qualities I endear most, thus I am here.

I dated a few Radcliffe girls in my time and found Hillary very represenitive of their breed of lady cat.

Sorry but I found a single parent mom working a diner jobmore my type...Down to earth , proud, hard working with priorities well in hand.


jiminycricket1 73M
13732 posts
11/24/2018 5:36 am

"So grateful the "giver".......So great the gift....."

I think I should copy write that.. I wouldn't want anyone to "steal' my gift.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/24/2018 11:44 am

    Quoting jiminycricket1:
    "So grateful the "giver".......So great the gift....."

    I think I should copy write that.. I wouldn't want anyone to "steal' my gift.
SO GREAT THE GIVER
SO GREAT THE GIFT

SO WELL RECEIVED
SO WELL THE LIFT


Misty02806 76F

11/27/2018 10:54 am

I enjoyed it a lot


Misty02806 76F

11/27/2018 10:55 am

I love churches