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B |
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Love
Beyond the Grave
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Red roses were her favorites,
her name was also Rose. And every year, her husband sent
them, tied with pretty bows.
The year he passed away, the roses
were delivered to her door. The enclosed
card said, "Be My Valentine," like all the years
before.
Each
year he sent her roses, the notes would always say, "I
love you even more this year than last year on this day."
or "My love for you will always grow with each passing
year." The year he passed away, she was sure it was
the last time that the roses would appear on her front door.
Flowers
in American Culture
The giving of flowers on special  occasions
is very important in American culture. These flowers
are usually given by the male to the female, especially
to sweethearts, wives, or mothers. The times during
the year when it is most appropriate to give flowers
are wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Mother's Day,
and especially Valentine's Day. |
Valentine's
Day
 A
holiday occurring on February 14th when flowers, gifts,
chocolates, cards, and other symbols of love are often
exchanged by affectionate persons. |
Standing
Order
Instructions given to a merchant or  other
person to deliver a product or provide a service at
regular intervals or whenever it is needed. For example,
some standing orders are carried out weekly, monthly,
or annually. Others, such as an order to shovel snow
from a sidewalk or driveway, are only carried whenever
they are needed. There are three main kinds of standing
orders: a purchase order; a delivery order; and a
service order. |
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She thought he must have ordered the roses in advance before
this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would die.
He always liked to do things very promptly,
long before the deadline. In this way, if he was occupied,
everything would still work out appropriately.
She
trimmed
the stems,
and inserted
them symbolically in a very special vase.
She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair while
staring blankly
at his photograph and the roses sitting there.
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A year went by and it was difficult to endure
without her mate. With loneliness
and solitude,
that tragedy has become her fate.
Then, at that identical
hour, as on Valentines
Day before, the doorbell rang and there were red roses
sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in and then just looked at them in astonishment.
Then, she went to get the telephone and called the florist
who had delivered the roses. The owner answered and she asked
him if he would explain why someone would unexpectedly
do this to her, provoking
such intense
pain? |
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"I know your husband passed away more than a year ago,"
the owner said. "I knew you'd call and you would want to
know," he proceeded.
"The flowers you received today were paid for in advance.
Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."
"There is a standing
purchase and delivery order that I have on file
down here. And he has paid, well in advance, so you'll get them
every year. There is also another thing that I think you should
know. He wrote a special little card, which he did several years
ago."
"Then should ever I find out that he is no longer around,
that's the card that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing
hard. Her fingers were shaking, as she haltingly
reached to get the card.
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Inside the card, she saw that he had written a note. As she
stared in absolute silence, this was what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've departed.
I loved you more than words can say. You were the perfect wife
and the ideal
companion. You were my friend and lover. You fulfilled my every
need."
"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness
that we had together and how both of us were blessed
to have each other. The roses will come every year and they
will only stop when your door's not answered, when the florist
stops to deliver and knock on the door.
"He will come five times that day, in case you should
be out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
to take the roses to the place where I've instructed him, and
place the roses where we are, together once again."
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(587
words) |
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