Thank You

She spotted the note immediately. It was one of her life’s little pleasures, a simple thing that brought a smile to her eyes as soon as she saw it.

Opening all the mundane, work-a-day mail first, she saved it for last, a treat for getting the chores out of the way.

Wondering what might be in it today, she settled back, took a sip of her coffee and carefully opened it. Who knew what might be in there. It was one of the delights of her life that almost anything might pop up. That was one of the beautiful things about this writer, who seldom minced words. He made her laugh and think and sometimes, like today, cry.

Generous beyond belief, he took care of the people around him, making sure the hungry had food, the sick had medical care and medicine, juices and broths. He’d been known to pay utility bills when the temperature was 120 out and the AC was about to be cut off. He hired lawyers for some and had even provided a temporary apartment for those who had no roof over their heads. Doing good deeds was not unusual, it was part of who he was. Just a part, but a large part.

Today, though, he brought tears to her eyes with a small paragraph slipped in among the news and chit chat. Today he touched her so unexpectedly and kindly that she didn’t even know how to respond, so she sat there, heart overflowing, tears in her eyes and smiled for a very long time.

And then she wrote back. Thank you. It wasn’t enough, but the feelings behind it were huge. He would know that. It was one of the things she loved about him.