Phillipe Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 A Test of Love~Author UnknownJohn Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station.He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind.In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II.During the next year and one-month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A Romance was budding.Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York."You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel."So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive.I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips."Going my way, sailor?" she murmured.Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away.I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own.And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her.This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment."I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile."I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBob Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 I don't know if I would call that a test of love but it sure was a test of honor.Peace & Love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawzo Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 I think I'd be upset and let little miss blondy sitting at the restaurant. I guess thats why I never got married. I hate all those stupid little tests and games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillipe Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I think I'd be upset and let little miss blondy sitting at the restaurant. I guess thats why I never got married. I hate all those stupid little tests and games.Testing, always testing, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bel Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 See Fuzzy, I found it painfully romantic and got all teary. Blasted menopause and it's mood swings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverRose Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I think I'd be upset and let little miss blondy sitting at the restaurant. I guess thats why I never got married. I hate all those stupid little tests and games.you don't need a wife- you know how to open your own can of Chef Boyardee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bel Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 you don't need a wife- you know how to open your own can of Chef Boyardee SNAP!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverRose Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 what snapped-- the pop-top on the can, or Bel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawzo Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 you don't need a wife- you know how to open your own can of Chef Boyardee Tonight it was Hormel Hot Chili with beans Actually ever since I was a little fuzzy fellow I thought I was going to wind up being a missionary. After contemplating the lack of the Chef and pizza in my diet if I followed my dream I had second thoughts and tried to be normal.Attempts at finding a lifelong female companion had the following outcomes.Peggy when I asked her to marry me she told me everything was too perfect and I was too nice and she felt I had a calling from God.Dawn - Ran in her house and cried and I didn't see her until three months later and by that tme I was going out with an evil hottie.Sharon - Stopped talking to me completely and ignored me.The weird thing is I have had other women tell me they felt I had something to do with God and I never use to talk about religion at all. Maybe its my halo or soemthing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverRose Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 (edited) good grief, your history sounds as bad as mine!!! although I did have a good dinner:couple of Musketeer bars & a bag of chips Edited January 1, 2008 by Heart of Fire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillipe Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Actually ever since I was a little fuzzy fellow I thought I was going to wind up being a missionary.I've been in that position, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverRose Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I've been in that position, too... we're sure you have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillipe Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 we're sure you have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBob Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Funny. I have been told a few times that I would be a good preacher. My only response was, "Why in the world would I want to be a preacher?" Of course, I received various reasons but none of them were acceptable to me.Peace & Love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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