The day his wife died, my brother Donnie lost his smile.
Well, he lost more than that; with just a glance at his drawn face, it was easy to believe he thought the world held absolutely nothing for him anymore. If it weren't for his children, I think he would have just sat in a corner and faded away.
But instead, he held on, gradually pulling himself back into the land of the living. Eventually the birth of his granddaughter reminded his face and heart how to smile. But it was still a rare and magical sight.
So you can imagine how ecstatic I am to report its return! He and his smile paid us an unexpected but very welcome visit this weekend, introducing us to the reason behind the smile's return: a girlfriend.
In other words… Love.
It turns out Donna grew up just around the corner from us. She and Donnie were great friends in high school but lost touch a few years later when he went in the Navy and she got married.
They recently reconnected via Facebook. He rode his Harley up to see her in person last month and he said it was like those years had never passed. (I believe him – he looks years younger!)
She lives in a little town not too far from us, so this weekend they drove over and spent the night. It was fun reminiscing, but more fun watching them beam at each other.
What's rare now is his face without a smile. It's still hard for me to believe, but I tested it with my camera, always in the past a sure-fire way to make that smile run away and hide.
Not anymore, as you can see…
Aren't they cute? <sigh> Thank you, Donna!
And thank you, Lord!
Accept the things to which fate binds you,
and love the people with whom fate brings you together,
but do so with all your heart.
~ Marcus Aurelius
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Between TG's birthday and Donnie's smile, that's already a lot of Sweet! but would you believe I spotted more sweet! moments this week? Here they are…
Sunday: spending a wonderful dinner with your niece-in-law while she's in town visiting her family
Monday: organizing a zillion loose to-do lists into one and scratching off tons of things before the day's over
Tuesday: finally getting your iPhone operational (it only took two full days and a few phone calls); a clean bathroom!
Wednesday: welcoming the newest baby Shallue into the world!; hours of work on your book; complete Lesson 1 of kim klassen's skinny mini class on Photoshop Elements (getting started is the hardest part!
Thursday: full moon waving goodnight through your kitchen window – at dawn; finally meeting the new parish priest; bougainvillea exploding with color even in a drought; sweet fresh strawberries
Friday: mandatory employee wine-tasting session (!); just the moon, you, your camera and dog in the quiet of the night; a sweet comment from your mom on a blog post; watching a movie with your sweetie
Saturday: sleeping in; remembering the day twenty years ago when you first met your baby girl; an unexpected visit from your brother and getting to meet the woman who restored his smile
Sunday: fresh chocolate birthday cake washed down with a glass of cold milk
What was your most Sweet! moment this week?
Long Hollow 
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