Saturday, January 29, 2011

Walter Clark~If I had to choose!

The past month has been a bit of isolation for me due to the fact that I somehow contracted impetigo on my left eye and in my left ear! I have recovered quite nicely and starting to feel quite lovely again thanks to my wonderful Doc!

Today I went to the local grocery store to pick up a few meager items due to financial strain and while I was walking down the aisle trying to decide what I could afford and becoming more frustrated with my situation, I passed this older man whom was humming so sweetly and had this beautiful smile on his face. I stopped a few feet away from this gentleman to pick up a couple boxes and heard him again, but this time I really listened. His humming caused a sweet memory of my grandfather to float across my muddled brain. I proceeded to walk away, but stopped short, turned around and approached this man. I could not help myself, I just had to know what he was humming. I interrupted kindly and asked him what song he was humming. He smiled so sweetly at me, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Who knows, at my age of 88, it could be anything!" He then laughed and smiled at me. I told him that he just reminded me of my grandfather and I thanked him for giving me that memory again.

As I walked off, I started feeling a little lighter of all my burdens of the day, and had this huge smile plastered across my face. I continued to shop, and as I went by this gentleman again, he stopped me. He told me that he finally remembered what he was humming. He said that it was a song he had written. I was astonished by his answer, and asked him if he was a musician. He told me no, but that he did like to write songs and poetry. He told me that name of the song was "If I must choose", and then sang a few bars of the song (at which he told me to forgive him for he was no great singer, but what I disagree because I heard something beautiful, something being sung from the soul!). He also told me that it was his wife's favorite song. Needless to say, I made a new friend there in the store. We spent the next half hour talking about his wife, jobs, and children. I found out that he may have worked and known my great Uncle! How small of a world, eh?

He told me how he got his wife to accept his marriage proposal! She turned him down and told him that she would never marry him, even if he was the last man on earth! They then went there separate ways to work in two different states while corresponding by letters for a year. He told me that after a year of writing, he finally had enough and decided he did not want to do that anymore. So he sent her a letter that ended with "I am tired of writing everyday, either marry me or leave me alone!" Well, he said the letter took about a week to reach her and he was still receiving letters from her, so he continued responding. When he finally received a letter from her saying that she would marry him, he quit his job that day to go be with her! I love hearing stories like that! This fine gentleman talked to me with the sweetest smile and treated me so kindly. He made me feel like I was a million bucks!

So, the next time you are out and about and feeling like the whole world is against you, remember to stop and look around for you never know what you might miss! I am glad that I listened to this man's humming, for it made my spot in the world a little better place to be in! I hope that at 88, I am still singing and dancing along in life just like him! Thank you Walter Clark for your kindness, happiness, and just being you!

~Peace~
Kym

3 comments:

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story! I am sure you made that old guy's day more than he made yours!

Love ya!

Jenny said...

That is so awesome! I just love hearing stories like his. There is an older lady that sits on the couch in the lobby at church and I love talking to her. She has so many wonderful stories and she makes me think of my Memaw.

Thanks for the comment on my blog about the watercolor paper, that had to be the problem! I didn't even think of that!

Frances said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!