I feel the same way about this one, Steve, simply beautiful, and intend to share it to all my friends. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frances Vitulla" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:16 AM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Re: The Happiest Day Of My Life
> > Hello Steve, you really out did your self this time. What a beautiful > story, I love this one. Thanks for sharing. > Original message: >> The Happiest Day Of My Life >> It started innocently. Many years ago I worked in an office with large >> windows facing a busy overpass. I was standing by one of those windows >> one day when a woman in a passing car looked up and made eye contact. >> Naturally, I waved. >> A chuckle escaped my lips as she turned and tried to identify me. It >> was the beginning of a year of window antics. When things were slow, I >> would stand in the window and wave at the passengers who looked up. The >> strange looks made me laugh, and stress was washed away. >> Co-workers began to take an interest. They would stand out of view, >> watch the reactions I received, and laugh along. Late afternoon was the >> best time - rush-hour traffic filled the overpass with cars and >> commuter buses, and provided lots of waving material for the end-of-day >> routine. It didn't take long to attract a following - a group of >> commuters who passed the window every day and looked up at the strange, >> waving man. >> There was a man with a construction truck who would turn on his >> flashing yellow light and return my wave, the carpool crowd, and the >> business lady with her children fresh from day care. But my favorite >> was the transit bus from the docks that passed my window at 4:40 p.m. >> It carried the same group every day, and they became my biggest fans. >> After a while, waving became boring, so I devised ways to enhance my >> act. I made signs - "Hi," "Hello," "Be Happy!" - and posted them in the >> window and waved. I stood on the window ledge in various poses, created >> hats from paper and file-folders, made faces, played peek-a-boo by >> bouncing up from below the window ledge, stuck out my tongue, tossed >> paper planes in the air, and once went into the walkway over the street >> and danced while co-workers pointed to let my fans know I was there. >> I didn't know it then, but a bond was forming between my fans and me. >> It wasn't until the following spring that I discovered how close we had >> become. >> My wife and I were expecting our first child that spring, and I wanted >> the world to know. Less than a month before the birth, I posted a sign >> in the window, "25 DAYS UNTIL B DAY." My fans passed and shrugged their >> shoulders. The next day the sign read, "24 DAYS UNTIL B DAY." Each day >> the number dropped, and the passing people grew more confused. >> One day a sign appeared in the bus, "What is B DAY?" I just waved and >> smiled. >> Ten days before the expected date, the sign in the window read, "10 >> DAYS UNTIL BA DAY." Still the people wondered. The next day it read, "9 >> DAYS UNTIL BAB DAY," then "8 DAYS UNTIL BABY DAY," and my fans finally >> knew what was happening. >> By then, my following had grown to include 20 or 30 different buses and >> cars. Every night they watched to see if my wife had given birth. >> Excitement grew as the days counted down. My fans were disappointed >> when the count reached 0 without an announcement. >> The next day the sign read, "BABY DAY 1 DAY LATE," and I pretended to >> pull out my hair. >> Each day the number changed, and the interest from passing cars grew. >> When my wife was 14 days overdue she went into labor, and the next >> morning our daughter was born. >> I left the hospital at 5:30 a.m., screamed my joy into the still >> morning air, and drove home to sleep. I got up at noon, showered, >> bought cigars, and appeared at my window in time for my fans. My >> co-workers were ready with a banner posted in the window: "IT'S A GIRL!" >> I wasn't alone that night. My co-workers joined me in celebration. We >> stood and waved our cigars in the air as every vehicle that passed >> acknowledged the birth of my daughter. >> Finally, the bus from the docks made its turn onto the overpass and >> began to climb the hill. When it drew close, I climbed onto the window >> ledge and clasped my hands over my head in a victory pose. The bus was >> directly in front of me when it stopped dead in heavy traffic, and >> every person on board stood with their hands in the air. >> Emotion choked my breathing as I watched the display of celebration for >> my new daughter. >> Then it happened: A sign popped up. It filled the windows and stretched >> half the length of the bus: "CONGRATULATIONS!" >> Tears formed in my eyes as the bus slowly resumed its journey. I stood >> in silence as it pulled from view. My daughter had been born 14 days >> late. Those people must have carried the sign on the bus for at least >> two weeks. Every day they had unrolled it and then rolled it back up. >> We all have a clown inside of us. We need to let it free and not be >> surprised at the magic it can create. For eight months I had made a >> fool of myself, and those people must have enjoyed the smiles I gave >> them, because on the happiest day of my life they had shown their >> appreciation. >> That day, more than 20 years ago, changed me. I just wanted to make my >> day better. >> I didn't realize how it affected others. >> Ever since then, I try to put a smile on someone's face every day. I >> compliment strangers on their clothing. I start conversations in >> elevators. I even make jokes in crowded New York City subways. Some may >> think I am crazy, but I know there is a chance that I'm making >> someone's day, someone who may, one day, hold up a sign that says >> "Congratulations!" > >> > -- > Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit > www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
