They first met back in that
magic time when a driver's 
license was something you sent 
away for whenever you wanted 
a new one.  
  Some youngsters were piling 
into a car to go somewhere 
and there wasn't enough room 
for everyone so they doubled 
up with some sitting on 
others laps.  He later told me, 
with a twinkle in his eye, 
it was that ride with her on 
his lap that told him he was 
in love.
   They were married and he 
worked hard repairing the 
machines at the cotton mill.  
It was dangerous hot work 
for long hours but he stuck 
to it for her.  Later he went 
to work as a truck driver when 
that work opened up, 
as it paid better. He saved 
his money and when oil was 
discovered he invested his 
money and had some success. 
   Flush with money he moved 
her to a new home with all 
the modern conveniences.   
Not being used to having so 
much money, he went a 
little wild.  
He met another woman and being 
swelled from success he made 
a tragic mistake.
  All darkness in life seems 
to bring with it a price and 
so it was for them.  
When she found out what had 
happened she nearly left him.
Although she stayed, she never 
again trusted him completely 
and always found little ways 
to let him know it.  
   He had already learned 
his lesson and truly regretted 
what he had done.  He planted 
3 rose bushes in the front yard.
Every year he would water those 
roses and feed them plant food.
No matter how he felt, sick or 
well, he worked on those 
rose bushes and once a year 
he would pick the best bloom 
from the rose, on their 
anniversary, and bring it in 
to her.  He did this even when 
he was so old he had to use a 
walker to make it out to the 
rose bushes.  When he finally 
grew to feeble to do it himself
he asked me to do it for him.
   My wife and I had been taking 
care of them both and so they 
had opened up to us quite a bit.
I am certain that she had forgiven
him long ago and that he knew it 
but it had become a dance over 
the years they both were 
comfortable with.  
Still, the words had to be 
said someday.
  When he got sick and lay in 
the hospital dying she leaned 
close and said "You can't die yet!
Our 65th wedding anniversary 
will be soon."  
I think she was letting him know 
he was finally forgiven.  
  After she died the house was 
sold to help pay the 
medical bills.   I still think of 
that white house with its 
rose bushes in the front yard.
I can't bring myself to drive past 
there anymore but I still see it 
in my heart where it will always
be proof of the power of love 
and the beauty of a rose.