Just Detours

[Guest guest]

Just Detours

by: A. Fielder, , Heartwarmers4u

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I have a little story I thought I would share with all of you. I

recently relocated, bought a house and moved in the first weekend of

July.

Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of

meeting a few of my neighbors who seem to be extremely nice people.

For Christmas, I thought I would do something nice for each of the

neighbors that I know. I sat down and counted. There were nine

neighbors whom I knew by name or spoke with often when I was out in

my yard. I also knew which houses they lived in.

I decided to add one more person to my list for a total of ten. This

lady that I decided to add lives down the street from me. I meet her

every morning walking to work as I drive down the street. She always

manages a contagious smile and a hearty wave. I had no idea what her

name was and not even sure which house she lived in.

My gift idea was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each

of my neighbor's front porches or door steps the night of Christmas

Eve for them to find, either that night or the next morning. I signed

the cards: " Happy Holidays from 5104 Northumberland Road. "

I saved the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly

sure where she lived. I finally decided upon a house down about where

I met her each morning and felt relatively sure that it was hers.

My neighbors really appreciated the baskets and would tell me as they

saw me in the yard or they would call, and a couple even came by to

thank me.

This morning on my way to work, I placed my mail in the mailbox and

noticed a small note inside. It was addressed simply -- Resident,

5104 Northumberland Road.

I opened the envelope and took out a Thank You card. I opened the

card and read the message which really caught me by surprise.

The card said. " Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you left on the

porch of . It was very thoughtful. passed

away on January 19, 1999. He never stopped talking about how nice it

was that someone remembered him in his time of illness. He really

appreciated it. "

I was sincerely stunned. I had no idea who was or that

he had been gravely ill. I had left that nice lady's basket on Mr.

's porch by accident. I wanted to say by mistake, but that would

be wrong. I believe that was meant to have that basket

and the Lord knew that he only had less than a month to live. I hate

that the nice lady did not get to receive a fruit basket from me this

Christmas, but I believe that if she knew what happened, she would

have had outcome no other way.

I feel blessed to have helped 's last days be more

cheerful. This just further reinforces my belief that there are never

any mistakes in life -- just detours, shortcuts, and small excursions

along the way.