Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A present from the past

Over the weekend I stopped in the Goodwill store. I usually buy my books there for
seventy cents each. When I got home I discovered a folded peice of paper tucked between the pages. There were two names and phone numbers. The handwriting resembled my late mom's and gave me a chill-thrill for a moment. Then I discovered a memento from the 1940's. It was a selective service card that had probably been used as a bookmark. I phoned the top number, but the man did not answer, so I phoned the number at the bottom. Diana answered with a cheery hello. Her voice sounded like my writer friend, Dianna, but it wasn't.

I explained how I had come across the family memento which was faded and worn,
probably carried in a wallet for years. I could barely make out the name on the card, in fact, I read the first letter of the last name incorrectly. When Diana asked if it could be a "C" instead of a "P", I realized it was.

She said, "That's my grandfather!" I asked if he had lived on Edwards in the city and I could hear the excitement in her voice, "YES!"

I asked if she wanted me to mail it to her, and her response warmed my heart. "Yes, it will be like a receiving a present."

I thought, "Present from the past, an heirloom."

I hope when she holds that business card-sized fragile document in the palm of her hand, she feels her grandfather's kiss on her cheek, smells his unique scent or perhaps the aroma of spaghetti sauce simmering in a pot on Edwards Street. I hope she has a happy memory of him. I hope he is still alive and well.

This might seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of life, but it is my belief that we are all somehow connected, and there is a reason for everything. My grandfather came from Italy. I wonder if Diana's did too.

I hope that this family treaure will have a ripple effect and keep touching others in her family, perhaps mend a fence or make someone smile.

Blessings to you Diana if you are reading this.

22 comments:

Donna Volkenannt said...

Hi Linda,
I'm teared up as I type this. What a wonderful gift to a granddaughter. It was so kind of you to take the time to find Dianna and send her the selective service card.
Donna

Linda O'Connell said...

Donna,
Thank you. I do believe that all of us are interconncected.

Katie Gates said...

Wonderful story. I agree re the connections we all have!

Kathleen said...

How thoughtful of you and so rewarding when you got such a happy response.

Anonymous said...

Linda,
How kind and thoughtful of you to find Diana and send her the card! I don't know if it would have occurred to me.

Linda O'Connell said...

Katie,
I absolutley believe that we are all linked. It's a small world, indeed.

Linda O'Connell said...

Hi Carol,
I would want someone to find me if it were possible and so I just 'do unto others'. Iappreciate your comment.

Linda O'Connell said...

Kathleen,
I do believe that simple card will have a far reaching effect. Thanks for stopping by.

Tammy said...

What a lovely story. I teared up, too, and got a "chill-thrill" just reading it! I'm so glad you were the one who found it, and I'm sure Diana is, too.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome thing you did...VERY kind. Not everyone would do that, sad to say. I am happy you had the book, the card was meant to 'go home' to where it came from.

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Hi Linda - What a wonderful story, and how fortunate that you were the person to find that card. Another might have thrown it away. What a beautiful example of one of my favorite things: serendipity!

Pat Wahler said...

What amazing kismet! You found the card and made the call. Not only was the number still active, but it belonged to the right person. Obviously this connection was meant to be!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Linda O'Connell said...

Tammy, Lisa, Carol, Pat,
Oh yeah! Life is a tapestry and we are the threads. Thanks for your comments.

Terri Tiffany said...

This story brought tears to my eyes--how kind of you to even call. Most people wouldn't. What a blessing that will be for her:)

BECKY said...

Another wonderful "paying it forward" event!

Mary Horner said...

What a wonderful story. It's always a treat to find a treasure we didn't know we had.

Lynn said...

Such a sweet thing you did.

Linda O'Connell said...

Terri, Becky, Tammy, Lynn,
Little thing in life mean so much. I thank you all for your comments.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oh, that was SO nice of you to go out of your way and call her like that. I know I would love to have something like that from my grandfather.

Tracey Simpson said...

This story was so sweet & heart-warming. You are an excellent writer :) Love you Mom!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful story, Linda. Sorry I missed it the first time around, but I found it again through Mary's blog!

Julia Gordon-Bramer said...

Wonderful! What fun to make someone's day like that, in such a magical way!