|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
May 23, 2003 - "She Never Left My Side
"Trust is the antidote for fear. Trust that we will be given everything we need to get through this moment & this day." ~ Murphy Tobin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMERTIME BOUTIQUE!
Drop in for a visit to see some of the wares of our own 2theheart members! (Even your own editor has a new "shop" up!)
ANGEL SUDS BY SOOZ! Fun, silly, beautiful, personalized and unique handmade soaps by.... Sooz! More photos will be up soon, but take a peek on the boutique page!
A CHARMING GIFT! This shop has tons of beautiful and interesting items for everyone! Bath and body, chunky pillar candles, stem charms, and more!
See the other unique gift items perfect for dads, grads, weddings, teachers, chemo angeling, birthdays and any time! Support your fellow 2TheHeart members! www.2theheart.com/boutique
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am so touched to share this last "Guy Week" story, written and requested to run on this particular day because tomorrow is the wedding anniversary of this wonderful couple! Send them lots and lots of Happy Anniversary email!
SHE NEVER LEFT MY SIDE
By Michael Segal, MSW
"PUUUSH...PUUUSH," I called out to my friend, but it appeared that there was no use in trying anymore. My car was stuck in the mud and I was on a double date. Being a 16 year old boy, I wanted to make a good impression on my pretty and intelligent date. However, hearing the motor rev with the car still stuck in the mud did not earn "brownie points" for my friend or me in the eyes of our dates.
We continued to push and push, but there was no getting my car "unstuck" from the mud. Sharon, my date, was revving the car's engine while Jeff and I were pushing and pushing. Finally, I said, "Enough!" Embarrassed, I approached Sharon as she sat behind the wheel of my mother's red station wagon. Before I could speak I noticed the gear on the car: IT WAS SET ON "NEUTRAL!"
I set the gear to "drive," instructed Sharon to wait until I gave her the signal to press down on the accelerator, and then went back to help Jeff push the car out of the mud.
That was our first date. Even though it resulted in my getting mud on my slacks, Sharon caused me to have love in my heart. I was "stung" by the Love Bug.
Sharon and I dated seriously throughout high school. I went away to college as Sharon was finishing her senior year in high school. Our love, which was blooming, was only matched in size by our long-distance telephone bills.
The next year, Sharon joined me at the University of Texas. We were so happy. We thought we were at the top of the world. We thought our lives were set. That was true until that eventful evening when in a split second our lives changed forever.
On February 18, 1981, we were studying at the library of the University. It was late and Sharon told me that she had to return to her dormitory to go to sleep. We slid into my car and headed toward her dorm, but, unfortunately, my gas gauge was registering "empty." I pulled into a nearby convenience store, borrowed $2 from Sharon, and walked into the store to pay for the gas.
Things do not always work out as one plans them. Unfortunately, the store was in the midst of a robbery, and one of the thieves forced me into the cooler. He followed me, pushed me to the floor, and calmly shot me in the back of the head -- execution style!
The story does not end there. Yes, the criminal thought I was dead; thus eliminating any witness to the crime. However, when the thieves left the store, I still had a faint pulse.
Very few people believed I would remain alive much longer. That is why the police transferred my case to the Homicide division. That is also why the neurosurgeon when he was awakened at his home to see me at the hospital came quickly but returned home as he believed an operation would be futile.
However, when the doctor returned to the hospital in the morning, he was shocked to see that I was still alive. He told my parents that an operation was necessary, but he added that he would be surprised if I survived the surgery.
I fooled all of the medical experts and survived the surgery. However, the surgeon warned my parents that even though I was still breathing I would probably never be able to communicate with anyone or understand anyone who was attempting to communicate with me. Basically, the surgeon stated, I would be "a vegetable."
Hearing those words, my father told Sharon, "Get on with your life."
Sharon quickly replied, "Mike is my life."
Even though we were not yet married, Sharon believed in the vows, "in sickness and in health." She dropped out of college for one semester to be with me at the Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston where I was eventually transferred. Sharon was spending her time with her "drooling boyfriend in the hospital" while other college freshmen were spending their time at parties.
Eventually, Sharon returned to Austin to continue her college education. Once again we had enormous phone bills.
My goal was to also return to Austin, to the University of Texas, to be with Sharon. Eighteen months after no one thought I would survive, I accomplished that goal. One of the primary reasons was ? Sharon; my love, who refused to give up or give in.
Four years after returning to college I graduated. For me, that meant I could finally propose to Sharon, my light at the end of the dark tunnel. She was the one who would always encourage me to look forward and not to focus on the past.
On a beautiful day in May, Sharon and I exchanged vows and were married. We were meant to be together. We had dated for nine long and eventful years, but I realized at the wedding that it was worth everything. Sharon was truly my soulmate.
We have been married for many years and we have a beautiful daughter, Shawn. We have experienced so much -- some bad, but more, much more, good.
Sharon, I love you so very much.
©2003 by Michael Segal, all rights reserved
Mike is truly a 2TheHeart treasure! You will find many of his stories in our archives and our HeartWriters page! A photo of this beautiful couple is above. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Mike and Sharon! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AND THAT'S A WRAP! Graduation, wedding, birthday coming up? Personalized candy wrappers will make it an unforgettable event! Visit http://www.andthatsawrap.com/ to 'wrap up' the perfect idea for a cherished day! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Letter Box: Susan -- Just a note to say thank you to you and your panel of judges, Maria Harden, Jenn Borjeson, Marty Fahncke and Anne Goodrich. I am very honored that my poem was selected in the finalist category. And I must commend all of the judges for taking on such a huge job. I can't believe that between the five judges, you read over 3,000 poems. Thank you for all your time and hard work.! God Bless, Kathy Monge kathy_monge@yahoo.com
Dear Steve & John,
Both your poem and story were excellent! I was amazed at both of them! Having both a husband and a father who rarely show their emotions, reading such depth of _expression was incredible to me. I adored both the poem and the story and the whole "GUY WEEK" theme! Thank you Susan for always making 2theheart outstanding and thank you to all the "guys" this week who just grabbed my heart! God bless, Frannie
To all the poetry winners: I just got done reading all the winning poetry on 2theheart and was blown away by how professional and how amazing each one is! I don't know hwo you could ever choose the winners - I'm sure it was hard! Big hugs to all the the poets from someone who wishes she could write poetry! Love, Geena
Susan,
I really felt led to write and say thank you for all you do. The new ecards - how you change them every week, the poetry contest, the new design on 2theheart, how you make every single page beautiful..... you work so hard and I don't know if you know how much we appreciate and love you!!!!!! YOU, my friend, are an angel of goodness. Thank you!
Love, Kay & I'm sure many many others!
PS - NEVER ever give up 2theheart! I know you have so much on your plate, but we would be lost without you!
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
