Heart Touchers

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{SFTH} *The Newlyweds* 3/19/01

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The Newlyweds

By Bill Arsenault

They got up early, having awoken even earlier. After breakfast in their
room, they put on their swimsuits. They took towels and went down to the
pool. They also each took a novel, even though they both knew they probably
would not do any reading. They picked two pool lounge chairs (almost no one
else was in the pool area yet) and propped the chair backs up. They laid
their towels down on the chairs and sat down in the warm, direct sun. He sat
on her left, as always. Sitting on her right would seem very backwards, even
uncomfortable, after all this time. They talked for a long time, and even
when there were no words, the conversation continued.

A while later, just before 10:00, they were both watching as the young
couple came into the pool area. The young couple looked around and picked
two lounge chairs directly across the pool from them. The young couple
helped each other place their towels on the upright chairs and then the
young woman sat down. The young man sat on her right, after having moved his
chair so that only a small space remained between the two chairs.

They watched the young couple, and almost immediately said, "I'll bet
they're newlyweds." They continued to watch, even study, and discuss the
young couple. The young couple talked and laughed animatedly for quite a
while. The young couple appeared to immensely enjoy the warmth of the direct
sun, of the conversation, and of each other. After a lengthy time, both the
young man and the young woman leaned back and closed their eyes.

They continued to secretly study the young couple. Every once in a while,
the young couple (still with their eyes closed) would quietly, and at the
same time, move their inner arms -- he, his left, and she, her right -- until
their hands met in the small space between their chairs. The young couple's
hands would touch. Their fingers would smoothly interlace. Their interlaced
hands would squeeze. The young man and young woman would both smile
slightly. Sometimes, the young couple (still with eyes closed) would turn
their heads -- he, to his left, and she, to her right -- and then, at the same
instant, slowly, almost sleepily, would open their eyes, and smile. These
and other similar things happened many times, closely and privately
monitored from directly across the pool. Each time, the young couple would
talk and laugh some more before leaning back and closing their eyes again.
They intently watched all these things that the young couple did. It was
almost like watching a succession of very private, almost spiritual moments,
even though no one else in the pool area had even noticed the young couple,
and certainly, no one else seemed to be studying them.

"The young couple must be very much in love. They're enjoying each other so
totally and so completely."

"Yes, I think so, too. I still think they must be newlyweds. They look so
young."

Time passed very quickly. After a while, it was almost noon, time for them
to go. They had been in the sun long enough. They both knew that, and both
started to get ready, without even talking about it. They would go back to
their room, change clothes, and go out to lunch.

"I know what we should do! Let's just stop before we go back up to our room
and ask them if they 'are' newlyweds."

"Yes, it will satisfy our curiosity, although I'm quite sure that they are."

They gathered their things, checked around their chairs for anything missed,
and walked around to the other side of the glassy surfaced pool. As they
stopped at the feet of the young couple, the young couple opened their eyes
and held hands.

"We were just curious, and hope you don't mind our asking. Are you two
newlyweds?"

"Yes. In fact, we're here on our honeymoon," one of the young couple said.

"Oh, really! So are we!"

Surprised, one of the young couple asked, "When did you get married?"

"Oh, 1965," they both said together.

"Wow! Did you have to delay your honeymoon for all this time?"

"Oh, no. We started it immediately after the wedding."

The young couple looked at each other, a bit puzzled at first. And then the
young man and the young woman both smiled, and squeezed their held hands.
The young couple understood -- a little bit now, more completely much later.

Bill Arsenault
BillArsenault@earthlink.net

Email Bill and let him know what you thought of his story!

*******
Bill resides in MN. He and his wife Beth have been married for almost 36
years. They have eight daughters and 15 grandchildren (soon to be 16). They
both appreciate the importance of family in their lives. Bill runs an e-mail
list that sends out MindBending puzzles every week to subscribers. Checkout
the MindBenders archives at:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/4258/
If you wish to subscribe: e-mail:
maiser@mail.otherwhen.com with the following in the BODY of the message: subscribe MindBender

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Thought For The Day:

"The strongest evidence of love is sacrifice."

Verse for the Day:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." --John 3:16

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Don't run away from home in the middle of a storm."

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"A child is fed with milk and praise."

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"If an unusual necessity forces us onward, a surprising thing occurs. The fatigue
gets worse up to a certain point, then, gradually or suddenly, it passes away
and we are fresher than before! We have evidently tapped a new level of
energy. There may be layer after layer of this experience, a third and a fourth wind.

We find amounts of ease and power that we never dreamed ourselves to own,
sources of strength habitually not taxed, because habitually we never push
through the obstruction of fatigue."
William James (1842 - 1910) Psychologist and philosopher

Deep Thought For The Day:

"My inferiority complex is not as good as yours."

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REQUESTS:

From: Shawpas@aol.com

My aunt is the most amazing woman. In the Depression she left her family (in San Diego, CA) and moved to LA to play professional softball, to help feed the family. If you are wondering about a woman playing professional sports way back then think about the movie A League of Their Own, my Aunt played here on the West Coast. She was one of the top players in her league. Now she is in her eighties and living all by herself. Two days ago we got a phone call from her Grandson they had to take her to the hospital, and the next day she had bypass surgery the prognoses was go she was talking and everything was fine. Yesterday my Grandfather (her brother) and I went to see her and the ICU nurse informed us that she had a stroke a couple of hours ago and when we got there my Aunt was in the middle of getting a brain Angiogram, so we came home to wait for news. I just got off the phone with the ICU and they told me that her vital are stable, but she is paralyzed on the right side and can't talk. I am sad to realize this vital active amazing woman will never be the same again. Please help us pray for good recovery or a speedy trip home to God. Thank you and God Bless.
Shawna P.
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From: JCH887@aol.com

Please pray for my grandson Ryan Caleb. He is in the hospital for the second time in two weeks with breathing problems. Pray for the Lord to surround them all with his Love as he always has done thru the trials with Ryan Caleb. Please pray that God would heal his lungs and chest area. Thank you for having this site where God is put first. Lord Bless You. Grams

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_
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ /    THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

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