Along about 1956 a young man stayed over night with his friend. The next morning he awoke and as he walked through the living room witnessed this young beautiful woman vaccuming the stairs and singing. He was overwhelmed by her lovely voice and warm smile. They began dating. He was shortly however drafted into the army and had to go to Korea. Before he left he had given her a box. This box was black and shiney with Asian designs on it.

  Some time had passed and with him over there and her still at home they lost touch. He thought she had given up on him. She thought he had given up on her. She met a man and began her life as a teacher and mother as her children grew she kept that box in the closet. Her husband offended by it. But to her it was a memory of her first love. He had also moved on and began a family and years past.

  Her life was that of the devoted mother. Years past and her husband was not faithful and their life as husband and wife ended and she lost her best friend then. Her husband moved away with his girlfriend to another state and she finally remarried. This man was mean and drunk most of the time. He was cruel to her children and hateful to her. She hid that box wrapped in a sweater in a bottom drawer of her dresser. Finally that marriage ended too and again she was alone.

  Her life was one of trials and pain but she kept her faith and stood strong.

Then she contacted the mother of her first love and found that he too had divorced and was living alone in Florida. She went to visit him and in a short time they married. That box now sat on her dresser and she sat there in the arms of the man that gave it to her.

  For the next 15 years they filled each day with love and commitment. Her halth was bad at times but he stood by her side. That is where he stood almost a week ago as she lay motionless in a hospital bed. Her three children around her and her first love too. Through all those years God had allowed them that time to be together and now He called her home.

  Today that box rests by his side as he grieves her passing. Some day they will be together again. Till then he has his paintings and memories of the love of a woman returned to him and he was her gift in life for remaining strong through out life and not loosing her faith. Now she watches over him and her children and dwells in their hearts.

  She was my mother, Patricia, and he is my step father, Robert.