posted
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him.. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing.. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out ! to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most...was...my time"
Jack h eld the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
4 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
5. You mean the world to someone.
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
7. You are special and unique.
8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life...for the better.
To everyone I sent this to, "Thanks for your time"
**There's so much saccharine that I've developed three types of cancer already!**
-------------------- I reject your reality and substitute my own. Posts: 52 | From: Reno, Nevada | Registered: Nov 2005
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Broken Angel
I'll Be Home for After Christmas Sales
posted
Why is it called 'Jack died'?? I thought Harold was the one that died and gave the box to Jack....
~*~ Broken Angel ~*~
-------------------- You're only a failure if you quit while you're behind. Posts: 119 | From: Manitoba, Canada | Registered: Nov 2005
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10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
Excuse me? How on earth can somebody love me if they don't know me? If they knew me enough to love me, I would know they existed.
I actually agree with a few of the other numbered points. But, I also agree that this glurge is suh-weet to the point of toxicity. It's sort of like It's a Wonderful Life crossed with that Cat's in the Cradle song to the 100th power.
Posts: 264 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
*phew* It's only Glurge. I was afraid Harold died
-------------------- In politics, absurdity is not a handicap - Napoleon Bonaparte Posts: 1801 | From: The Forest City, Ontario | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
No, no, no, Harold is still alive and quite dapper looking, too! Maude, on the other hand....
-------------------- Like every good third-in-a-series it contains a whole load of ewoks, ‘Clubber’ Lang, whey-faced Sophia Coppola, Sean Connery as the Pirate Captain’s estranged dad, a crappy CGI alien, and Richard Pryor on a donkey. -- Gideon Defoe Posts: 2211 | From: Harford County, MD | Registered: Oct 2005
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10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
Excuse me? How on earth can somebody love me if they don't know me? If they knew me enough to love me, I would know they existed.
No, you might not know them, but they KNOW YOU (queue evil laughing...). They are the one behind your bushes, outside your window... watching... waiting... if THEY can't have you... NO ONE can... They reach for the latch...
Sleep well...
-------------------- And now for something completely different... Posts: 4164 | From: Alabama | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
I think you're a complete and utter jerk. It's not true that I said hanging was too good for you, since I believe that hanging would be quite appropriate in your case, the sooner the better. There, I'm happy I told you this. Are you happy to know how I feel about you?
-------------------- Ad astra per asparagus. Posts: 4806 | From: Groton, CT | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Yes, it is reminiscent of "Cat's in the Cradle."
Also, is it possible that someone who doesn't know I exist doesn't know I love them?
Posts: 1111 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
As a performer who spent 5 years in a 250-person ensemble, I can indeed say that there were a lot of people there whose existence I never registered, but I loved every one of them.
-Tabby the princess with claws
-------------------- If you don't appreciate the irony, the irony appreciates.
"Sappiness and medieval violence: it's a wonderful combination. Like chocolate and peanut butter for the mind." -me on my fantasy novel-in-progress Posts: 2281 | From: Arizona | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I didn't think the story was *that* bad. If you cut the standard-issue "workaholic man who doesn't spend enough time with his son until he realizes how precious life is" crap and just made it a story about a man remembering his stand-in father and receiving a sentimental gift upon the old man's death, it's actually kind of sweet. The tacked-on list of things to remember made me throw up a little in my mouth, but hey, can't win 'em all. Oh, and Foxx, I'm totally stealing your comment for my sig line.
-------------------- "If God wrote it, the grammar must be infallible. Perhaps it is we who are mistaken." -MapleLeaf Posts: 977 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
It sounded like two glurges stitched togather into one, the first being about the workaholic who learns from the old mans wisdom that spending time with his friends and family is what is truly important in life, the second a long silly list about people who love you, they don't really fit togahter IMO as nothing in the first part has anything to do with the second part, a slightly better glurge-ish part to add (if you had to add something, which glurge writers seem to always do*) would be the "to know how important one second is, ask a person who almost had a car accident" one (if you know the one I mean).
* Sometimes I think there are like only five real glurges out there, all the rest are either modified versions (changeing the name and setting but the story itself is identical) or multiple glurges hacked up and sewed back togather.
-------------------- "All people are responsible for the good that they didn't do" Posts: 4774 | From: Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Do you have any wine? All of this would go a lot smoother in an altered state of reality. Posts: 779 | From: Southampton, England | Registered: Nov 2005
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chili_kitten
I'll Be Home for After Christmas Sales
posted
quote: 1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
Assume you mean parents
quote:2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way
Cite?
quote: 3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Rubbish, they would think i was being sarky and i'd probably get a bust lip
quote:4 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
Yeah, the people who rob my house every weekend
quote: 8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
What about heart surgeons?
quote: 10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
Why would i care?
quote: 12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
I think Peter Andre is a tango-d ken doll
quote: To everyone I sent this to, "Thanks for your time"
Oh piss off
-------------------- Doughnuts are my favourite dairy product Posts: 185 | From: UK | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Those tacked on points at the end are gag inducing for sure. The actual story isn't so bad though, IMO. It gets extra points for not once mentioning Jesus and for showing good grammar and decent storytelling skills.
-------------------- I'm not paranoid, I'm just surrounded by enemies! Posts: 420 | From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Registered: Nov 2005
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-------------------- Leashes?! We don't need no stinking leashes!! Posts: 4771 | From: The Berkeley of the East Coast: Montgomery County MD | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Yeah, right. I see an enemy, smile at them, and they're just gonna stand there thinking, "WTF is she smiling about? Is she up to something? I'm gonna deck her lights right now and...oh wait! I suddenly feel all warm and gooey inside! Why, thank you, mortal enemy, for making me laugh at love. Again."
4 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
Is baby oil involved? (Brrr...)
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
Funny, I don't remember doing CPR to anyone in my lifetime.
7. You are special and unique.
Anyone else thinking of that scene in Life of Brian right now?
9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
Wow. Thanks a lot, Timon.
10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
Is this the same guy with the baby oil from #4?
-------------------- I would prefer not to. My blog Posts: 4789 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by TrishDaDish: [QB] 3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Why, thank you, mortal enemy, for making me laugh at love. Again."
Love your enemy--drive him nuts! --Brother Dave Gardener
-------------------- Leashes?! We don't need no stinking leashes!! Posts: 4771 | From: The Berkeley of the East Coast: Montgomery County MD | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Esprise Me: The tacked-on list of things to remember made me throw up a little in my mouth, but hey, can't win 'em all. Oh, and Foxx, I'm totally stealing your comment for my sig line.
This is how the e-mail was sent to me, minus the insane HTML that defies all common sense. There were sparkles, bright pink, marquee... I wasn't going to torture you all with that.
And hey, thanks! I'd much rather be quoted here than on GameFAQs where it usually happens.
-------------------- I reject your reality and substitute my own. Posts: 52 | From: Reno, Nevada | Registered: Nov 2005
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