When we returned home from Oregon and Washington I had a message on my answering machine from a man we rented a house from four years ago, Mark
McKell. It was the sweetest message. He said he was reading the obituaries and had seen that I had lost my sister. He told me how sorry he was and said it looked like she was a beautiful, young girl. I called him back and asked how he was doing. He said he lost his wife a couple years ago and now lives alone. I asked if I could come visit him. Mark is truly an amazing man, always looking on the bright side of life. Even in his late 80's, he is as sharp as a tack. Mark is inspirational to me. When he was 80 he decided he wanted to buy an organ and take organ lessons. He knew nothing of music. He didn't even know where middle c was, but at age 80 he bought an organ and learned how to play the organ. While I was there he played a couple of his favorite love songs. Mark has taught me that it's never too late to try something new and it's never too late to develop your talents.
We looked at pictures of his family. He has a wonderful family who takes good care of him. He has many, many grandchildren and several of them live close by. He told me of one grandson that calls him everyday to see how he's doing, and this grandson comes by often to have lunch with him.
He played a song on a
CD for me that was played at his wife's funeral. He said he and his wife used to dance to that song when they were young. I about started sobbing in his family room, but I kept myself together pretty good with a tear here and there escaping my eyes. He said he had a little something for me. I was surprised and felt a little
embarrassed that I had brought nothing for him. He came upstairs with a brown sack. Inside the sack was a few portions of meat from a cow he had slaughtered earlier in the year. He is a kind and generous man.
Abby and Weston came with me. Abby got to play the organ. She was so sweet. She loved being there and listening to him talk. She could tell that Mark is a great man.
We looked at pictures of his family. He has a wonderful family who takes good care of him. He has many, many grandchildren and several of them live close by. He told me of one grandson that calls him everyday to see how he's doing, and this grandson comes by often to have lunch with him. 
He played a song on a CD for me that was played at his wife's funeral. He said he and his wife used to dance to that song when they were young. I about started sobbing in his family room, but I kept myself together pretty good with a tear here and there escaping my eyes. He said he had a little something for me. I was surprised and felt a little embarrassed that I had brought nothing for him. He came upstairs with a brown sack. Inside the sack was a few portions of meat from a cow he had slaughtered earlier in the year. He is a kind and generous man. 
Abby and Weston came with me. Abby got to play the organ. She was so sweet. She loved being there and listening to him talk. She could tell that Mark is a great man.
2 comments:
Wow, I hope that I can follow Mark's example. That is pretty cool that he has an organ and that he learned to play it!
Okay you did it. I'm crying. That is a very sweet man! And a very sweet thing you did. I'm sure it was wonderful for him to have you guys come visit.
-Jessica
Post a Comment