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'Thanks for your time'- A good story!
- Mr. Naveen

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> > A young man learns what's most important in life > > from the guy next door. > > > > 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's 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 > > 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 thebox. 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 held 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.' > > > > - Unknown - > > > > Have a great day. Oh, and thank you for your time. : ) > > > > --------------------------------------------------------- > > Life is a garden > > Good friends are the flowers > > And times spent together > > Life's happiest hours

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