Today, my dad came home with roses for my mom and I. “What are these
for I asked?” He said that several of his coworkers were complaining
about their wives and children today. He realized how lucky he was that
after 20 years of marriage, and raising a daughter for the last 17
years, he still had nothing to complain about. MMT
Today, when I asked my grandfather for some relationship advice, he
said, “Honestly, the moment I stopped trying to find the right woman,
and started trying to become the right man, your grandmother walked up
to me and said, ‘Hello.’” MMT
Today, it’s been 10 years since I told my best friend Diego that I
wouldn’t be able to attend the prom with him because my family was
struggling to make ends meet and couldn’t afford to buy me a ticket or a
dress. Diego ended up buying me a dress and a ticket, and helping my
folks out with money by helping my dad, who had been unemployed for six
months, find a good job. Ten years, a marriage, and one kid later, Diego
still MMT.
Today, on our 50th wedding anniversary, my husband took out an old
envelope and handed me back the love note I wrote him in the 7th grade.
MMT
Today, it’s been over ten years since I was a bag boy at a local
grocery store. On Sunday mornings I held the front door open for our
customers and greeted them. One particular older woman loved me for it.
She actually told me on several occasions that one day I would make a
lovely husband. This afternoon, I walked into that grocery store holding
my wife’s hand and the same old woman was on her way out. She held the
door for us, winked and said, “I told you so.” MMT
Today, my wife and I sat down and watched the same movie at the same
time. Despite being 9,000+ miles apart overseas on active duty, I felt
like she was sitting right by me and I suddenly didn’t feel so alone. MMT
Today, it’s been five years since I adopted a puppy from a high kill
shelter that had no time left. Since then I have developed a moderate
case of a neurological disease that causes seizures. Believe it or not,
the dog is able to detect my seizures before I know. She starts barking
hysterically, and keys me into my episode before it starts. So today she
is my service dog. The life I saved is saving me every day MMT.
Today, it’s been 28 years since a firefighter saved my life when he
rescued me from a burning condo building. In the process he suffered a
leg injury that doctors said would leave him unable to walk normally for
life. This evening, he put down his cane and slowly walked our daughter
down the aisle. My husband of 27 years always MMT.
Today, I finally stopped being foolish and called an old best friend
I hadn’t talked to in over a year. He singlehandedly got me threw one
of the toughest times of my life, and in my depression I lashed out at
him and dropped him from my life for selfish reasons. He answered the
phone with: “Ready to pick up where we left off?” It instantly made me
smile. Jason, you MMT.
Today was my little sister’s 14th birthday. She has Down Syndrome
and doesn’t have many friends. My boyfriend picked me up for dinner with
flowers, but said they weren’t for me. He came inside and handed them
to my sister. She was so excited. He then took us both out to dinner to
celebrate. MMT
Today, I am a poor student, struggling to afford groceries and all
the luxuries I was accustomed to. But every time I get a letter in the
mail from my poppa telling me how much he loves me, or a phone call from
my best friend just because she was thinking about me, I feel like the
richest person in the world – in those moments I feel like I have
everything I need. MMT
Today, my mom and dad are recovering heroin addicts. They still go
to their support groups, but both of them have been clean for 17 years,
since the day they found out my mom was pregnant with me. MMT
Today, my grandmother passed away. It was really hard on my entire
family. She was the glue that kept our family together through many hard
times over the last decade. One of my close friends from college showed
up at her ceremony. She paid her respects like everyone else, and gave
me a huge hug before she left – a sincere hug that helped calm me
inside. The interesting thing is, she never met my grandmother before,
but she said she came today because, in her words, “Your grandmother is
important to you, and you are important to me.” MMT
Today, my biological mother is deceased due to a drug overdose when I
was only 3-years-old. But today I can also proudly say I have the
privilege of calling a beautiful woman, who has no blood relation to me,
my Mom. She is not my stepmom or official adopted parent. She is my
best friend’s mom who loves me enough to call me her daughter, and has
for as long as I can remember. MMT
Today, I got a phone call from my daughter’s kindergarten teacher.
She asked me why I wasn’t providing lunch for my daughter over the past
few days. Confused, I hung up the phone and asked my daughter what she
was doing with her lunches. She said, “Katie’s mom is in the hospital
and hasn’t been able to make any meals for the last week, so I gave a
few of my lunches to her.” MMT
Today, after we all watched her blow out the ridiculous number of
candles on her giant 100th birthday cake, my grandmother looked up at
all 27 of us – her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and
extended family – and said, “Look what I started. This family. I am so
proud to be a part of your lives.” MMT
Today, it’s been about two years since my ex-step-father tried to
set my mom on fire, leaving her with burn scars on her face. Every week
my little brother and I anonymously write a letter to her saying how we
think she’s the most beautiful woman in the world (the truth), and we
put it in the mailbox. She doesn’t know it’s us. But she cries when she
opens them, and she just told us over dinner that the letters she’s been
receiving are helping her look up on days when she feels down. MMT
Today, I helped make food for the homeless. The man I was giving the
sandwich to said he didn’t want it. I asked why and he pointed to his
friend behind him and said, “I want the birthday boy here to have two
sandwiches on his special day. It’s the only gift I have to give.” His
friend was elated. People who have nothing and still give MMT.
Today, my best friend’s new girlfriend, who he’s had a crush on for a
long time, finally admitted verbally that she “hates” me. He came up to
me today, looking pretty upset, and told me what she said. And then he
said, “So I broke up with her. Because if she doesn’t respect you, she
obviously doesn’t respect me either.” MMT
Today, I walked past a woman walking two dogs. One dog was missing a
leg, but they were both limping. I asked what happened. She smiled and
explained that the injured dog had lost his leg in a dog fight before
she adopted him, and that her other dog oftentimes “mimics him so he
won’t feel alone and different.” MMT
Today, after he finished giving his valedictorian commencement
speech at his college graduation ceremony, he walked off the stage
directly over to me, hugged me for a minute straight, and said, “Thank
you for adopting me when I was five, and being the biggest inspiration a
child could hope to have in a dad.” MMT
Today, while playing with my 20-month-old daughter, I pretended to
be sleeping. She covered me with a blanket, patted my back, then kissed
me gently on the mouth – which is exactly what I do when I tuck her in
at night. How closely our children watch us, and what they learn from
our actions MMT.
Today, after my two-year-old daughter, who can’t swim well, fell
into our pool and began panicking, the stray dog I rescued from the
pound last month, jumped into the pool and pulled my daughter to the
shallow steps… all in under 10 seconds before I could make it from my
lawn chair on the patio to edge of the pool. MMT
Today, my baby sister wears her hair short, just like me. I’m
fighting leukemia. My hair is short because of my chemo treatment. Her
hair is short because she told my mom, “I want to be beautiful like my
big sis.” MMT
Today, I waited at my boyfriend’s house for half an hour before
going home. As I angrily walked inside, I heard laughter. My clinically
depressed brother, who hasn’t cracked a smile in two months, was
grinning as he watched a video on YouTube. Sitting next to him was my
boyfriend holding the laptop. We had a miscommunication about where to
meet, but when he saw my brother sitting alone he decided to stay and
keep him company. His kindness MMT.
Today, at the nursing home I work at, I watched an elderly couple
eat together as they do everyday. They have been married 63 years. She
had a stroke and can’t stand, eat, talk or do anything for herself. He
doesn’t need to live in a nursing home, but he does just to be with her.
Everyday he eats his food, feeds her, and sits next to her looking at
her like he must have the day they were married. His unconditional,
undying love and loyalty MMT.
Today, he’s driving to my college apartment to spend my last week of
school with me. This will be the first night of the rest of our lives.
After 3 years dating long distance, a 12 month deployment to Iraq, and
the rest of the time spent 3 states apart due to his serving in the
Army, we are finally going to be together, permanently, in one place.
Waiting this long for each other, and finally getting to start our life
TOGETHER makes me happy and MMT.
Today my Ex husband asked me to marry him, I said yes. We were
married when I was 19, divorced later on and then our lives somehow lead
our hearts back together. We are going to be married in 2 weeks, on
what could have been our 16th wedding anniversary. Our children cried
with joy when we told them today. MMT
Today, when you dropped me off after we hung out, you called out to
me as I stepped out of your car. You said, “Take care of yourself,
okay?” and I responded with an absent-minded, “Sure.” But then your
voice changed tone. “I’m serious, Jess. You’re important to me. Take
care of yourself,” you repeated. You have no idea how much I needed
that. Your true friendship MMT.
Today, as I was sitting on the ledge of a cliff at a park, staring
off into the distance and thinking, I turned around to see a girl almost
in tears but trying to slowly walk down the ledge to where I was
sitting. I got up and walked up to her and asked her what was wrong. She
told me she was deathly afraid of heights, but wanted to get over her
fear because I looked lonely sitting by myself, and she wanted to make
sure I was okay. Her braveness and kindness MMT.
Today, it’s been eight years to the day since he stopped doing
drugs, cleaned up his act, and started caring for his younger siblings
full time. One of those siblings is me. When my parents died in a car
accident eight years ago, my 18-year-old brother stepped up, got a job,
and started taking care of me and my twin sister (who were both 10 at
the time) full time. This evening my brother, who is now 26, attended
our high school graduation with a proud smile on his face. MMT
Today, I broke down in front of my dad, frustrated with recently
coming out to my family. I began to cry and yelled, “I’m sorry I’m gay!”
He grabbed my tear-filled face and said sternly, “Don’t ever apologize
for who you are. Who you are is who I love. And who you are is
beautiful.” MMT
Today, my father and I haven’t spoken much in four years because
apparently I just don’t fit into his life. Earlier this week my step-dad
called me worried sick because he missed my call and I left a voicemail
while I was crying. He was ready to drive a couple hours to my school
if something had happened. His caring, and the fact that my mom found a
man who loves me like his real daughter, MMT.
Today, after years of struggling with my weight, and dealing with an
overweight family in denial, my children age 5 and 7 rode their bikes
and ran with me while I worked out. My wife started working out too. My
kids are super excited about their upcoming races with me and their mom.
Realizing that the things I do and say matter, and that we’re all in
this together as a family MMT.
Today, my mother had my grandfather – my father’s father – over for
Easter Sunday dinner because his wife passed away and my Dad was away on
business. My mom and dad have been divorced for 13 years, but my mom
didn’t want my grandfather to be alone. Her kindness MMT.
Today, I was behind a bigger guy and his wife in line for a
rollercoaster. They seemed to have come with a big group of people, but I
could tell he was nervous. When he fit it into the cart tears rolled
down his cheeks and the entire group started cheering. It turns out he
just lost 100 pounds and hasn’t been able to ride a rollercoaster for 12
years. Every person around him were his friends and they were there to
support him. MMT
Today, I was stressing out over school and work, along with a lot of
personal problems that have popped up in my life lately. In the middle
of the stress, I received an email from a woman I regularly babysit for.
She told me that her little daughter who I babysit cut out my picture
from a news article I was in and taped it to her bedroom wall. Knowing
that I matter that much to her made me smile, even today. MMT
Today, I waited on an elderly couple where I work. She kept
forgetting things. Turns out she has Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband
was so calm and understanding. He never got annoyed having to tell her
everything she had forgotten. I witnessed true love at its best. MMT.
Today my best friend, who has been my best friend for over 10 years,
confessed that he used to be depressed in high school. I felt like a
horrible friend and asked out loud how I never picked up on it. He
looked at me, laughed and said, “You probably never picked up on it
because I couldn’t help but smile when I was around you. You’re the
reason I made it through.” MMT
Today, I came across my mom’s old journal in the attic. I read a few
entries, and they were quite depressing. My mom has always been such a
positive influence in my life, so I had no idea her past was so
troubled. The final entry was written the day before I was born. I told
my mom I found her journal, and asked her why she stopped keeping a
journal after I was born. She said, “I found happiness. I finally had
something amazing to live for.” MMT
Today, as my 81 year old mother and I sat in the waiting area of a
restaurant, the 1960’s song “Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys came on
the radio, and she started to smile. “What are you smiling about?” I
asked. “This was our song – your dad and I, that is,” she said. “You
know, your dad has been gone for almost a decade, and it’s been nearly
50 years since he and I first heard this song playing in a night club.
But every time I hear it, it reminds me of that night, dancing with him
on our first official date. And that makes me smile.” MMT
Today, in a little African village where I volunteer as a nurse, I
passed out food to hungry children. And since I knew her only food for
the day was the slice of wheat bread I had just given her, I did not let
her see me cry when she tore the slice in two and gave the bigger half
to her little brother. MMT
Today, it’s been a year since I won my court case. 14 months ago my
neighbor was abusing his dog. So I stole the dog, got arrested, fought a
two-month legal battle with every cent I had, and won. And now every
night when the dog jumps in bed with me I know it was worth it. MMT
Today, my dad handed me a bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towel
as we got in the car. He turned to me and said, “I just talked to your
mom while she was on her lunch break. She mentioned her windshield got
covered in bugs on the drive to work. Since we’re going to drive right
by her work anyway, I figured we’d clean them off for her. It’s the
little things, kiddo, which keeps love going.” By chance, while my dad
was cleaning the windshield, my mom came out with her kids for recess.
Her smile and seeing how in love my parents are MMT.
Today, it’s been five years since I was severely beaten by three
bullies at a college party for stopping them from trying to bring a
drugged girl home with them. I lost a tooth, received two black eyes and
severely bruised ribs from the incident, but I stopped them. This girl
was my crush for three years but had never noticed me as boyfriend
material until that night. When I woke up in ICU 12 hours after I was
beaten up, she was sitting beside my bed, asleep while holding my hand.
Since then, we’ve been steadily dating for five years and are engaged to
be married. Who says nice guys finish last? MMT
Today, I received this text message from my fiancé: “I want this
too. I want all of it. I want the pointless bickering, the long walks,
the late night phone calls, the good morning texts. I want cute pictures
with you, to hold your hand, to make food for you, to call you baby.
The joking, the wrestling, the fights, the long ‘how I feel’ text
messages on the days we aren’t on the same page. I want to be one of
those inseparable best friend couples that people are like ‘you’re still
together?’ That’s what I want. With you.” MMT
Today, as she laid in her hospital bed, just before my grandmother
took her last breath, she smiled and said, “Hello Charles.” Charles was
my grandfather’s name. He died in 1998. MMT
Today, on our ten year wedding anniversary, my middle school/high
school sweetheart wrote me a love letter for the very first time. The
final sentence reads, “I love you more every day, and I’m so proud to
say we’ve been inseparable since we were dinosaurs wrecking havoc on the
playground so many moons ago.” MMT
Today, four years after I lost my hearing after making a full
recovery from Meningitis, my boyfriend of seven years asked me the
four-word question every girl wants to hear. But I never imagined how
perfect it would look as it did when he signed it to me. MMT
Today, I was feeling very down while heading out to a family dinner.
I was in the back seat of the car with my 12-year-old brother who’s
never affectionate to me. My boyfriend had just dumped me, but I didn’t
want to tell my family yet. While I sat in the car with my sunglasses on
to cover my tear filled eyes, my little brother looked at me a few
times and then reached over and held my hand for the rest of the car
ride. MMT
Today, after dreaming about it for the last ten years, she sat down
on my lap in my wheelchair with me and kissed me on the lips. And then
she paused for a second, smiled and went in for another. MMT
Today, after spending nearly 24 years of my life self conscious of
being a 6’2 tall woman, and being taller than most of the guys, I fell
in love and married a guy in a wheelchair. MMT
Today, after nearly 12 years without a intelligible word spoken, my
deaf daughter hugged me tight and said, “I love my daddy!” MMT
Today, I accidentally sent a text message intended for my husband to
my father-in-law. Luckily it only said “I love you.” My father-in-law
sent me a really sweet reply and signed it “Love, Dad” for the first
time since we’ve been family. MMT
Today, I work at a high school as guidance counselor, and today was
‘music genre day.’ The principal and administrative staff encouraged
teachers and students to dress (appropriately) in a way that symbolizes
their favorite musical style. I dressed in the grunge style (a flannel
shirt, jeans, and messy hair) much like I did in middle and high school.
After work I stopped by the nursing home to see my grandmother who has
Alzheimer’s. And for the first time in almost two years, she recognized
me! She said, “My sweet Katie!” as soon as she saw me. MMT
Today, I was in Central Park trying to write a new chapter in my
novel. The writing was going at a snail’s pace – I just couldn’t seem to
type the right words. And I began to get frustrated and depressed. Then
out of left field, an attractive woman sitting on a bench across the
path from me got up, walked over to me, smiled, placed a paper on my
table, and left without a word. It was a gorgeous sketch of me thinking
and writing. I instantly smiled and wrote the rest of the chapter with a
grin. And when I was done writing, I realized her name and phone number
were written on the backside of the sketch. MMT
Today, it’s been two years nice my mom lost her battle with cancer.
She was 40 at the time and I was 13. Since then her best friend, Joy,
has treated me like her own daughter. She picks me up for school 3 days a
week on the mornings my dad has to leave early, packs me lunches, takes
me to doctor’s appointments, talks to me about the birds and the bees,
etc. Recently I told her that I appreciate it, and she replied, “There’s
no reason to thank me. As far as friends go, your mom was my soul mate.
And although I decided to never have kids, I have one, you. I love you
like my own daughter.” MMT
Today, it’s been ten years since my controlling, abusive ex-fiancé
sold my favorite guitar which cost me $900 and took me ages to save for.
He sold it on the day I dumped him. When I went to claim my things, he
was proud that he had sold it to a pawn shop. Luckily, I managed to
track down the guy that bought it from the pawn shop. The guy was really
sweet, and gave it back to me for free, on the condition that I
accompany him on his front porch for an hour and play guitar with him.
He grabbed a second guitar and we ended up sitting there on his porch
for the rest of the afternoon playing music, talking, and smiling. He’s
been my husband for nine years now. MMT
Today, it’s been a couple weeks since I got unexpectedly laid off
two days before Christmas. Unemployment only pays me about 20% of what
I’ve been making for the last five years. I had to move from a 1,500
square foot apartment into a 400 square foot studio to make ends meet.
I’ve been really stressed out for many reasons, but mainly because my
fiancé comes from a pretty wealthy family. I sometimes worry I don’t
financially live up to her expectations. Tonight, she came to see me
when she got off work. We were sitting on the couch and I asked her if
she was comfortable. She immediately snuggled her head into my chest and
said, “This, right here, always feels like home.” MMT
Today, it’s been exactly six months since I took on the
responsibility of caring for my 17-year-old severely autistic brother.
He rarely talks and prefers to be alone. Today while I served him his
favorite meal for dinner, he gave me a huge hug out of the blue and
said, “Thank you my beautiful big sister!” His gesture made me cry from
joy and MMT.
