Food For Thought "Red Marbles"

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2008
Food For Thought "Red Marbles"
3
Thu, 08-28-2008 - 1:47pm
Subject: Red Marbles



> I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a
> small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily
> appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
>
> I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green
> peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
> Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between
> Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
>
> "Hello, Barry, how are you today?"
>
> "H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look
> good."
>
> "They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
>
> "Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
>
> "Good. Anything I can help you with?"
>
> "No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
>
> "Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.
>
> "No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
>
> "Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
>
> "All I got's my prize marble here."
>
> "Is that right? Let me see it," said Miller.
>
> "Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
>
> "I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is, this one is blue, and I sort of go
> for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.
>
> "Not zackley but almost.."
>
> "Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you, and next trip this
> way let me look at that red marble," Mr. Miller told the boy.
>
> "Sure will. Thanks,Mr.Miller."
>
> Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a
> smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community. All
> three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them
> for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their
> red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all
> and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an
> orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."
>
> I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time
> later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the
> boys, and their bartering for marbles.
>
> Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just
> recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community,
> and while I was there I learned that Mr. Miller had died.
>
>
> They were having his visitation that evening, and knowing my friends
> wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we
> fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever
> words of comfort we could.
>
>
> Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and
> the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very
> professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and
> smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed
> her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
>
>
>
> Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man
> stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in
> the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
>
> Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her
> of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her
> husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my
> hand and led me to the casket.
>
> "Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They
> just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at
> last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came
> to pay their debt."
>
> "We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided,
> "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in
> Idaho."
>
> With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
> husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
>
> The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
> Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take
> our breath...
>
>
> Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you
> didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green
> stoplights on your way to work...The fastest line at the grocery store...A
> good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left
> them.
>
> Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just did...
>
> If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a
> hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
>
> IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF
> LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED.
>
>
>


DD

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2006
Thu, 08-28-2008 - 3:00pm
That is so beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes....

bikergirlsexydreamy2dl.jpg image by nhgal2006


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28999825.jpg picture by nhgal2006

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2007
Thu, 08-28-2008 - 4:53pm
So true - and it brings tears to my eyes everytime I read it too!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Fri, 08-29-2008 - 5:02am

Man...I guess I've been away for a long time...


I wasn't aware that we had a gay website going on here....


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