Catholic Singles

LIVING LIFE
BY: MARK ANTHONY ROSOLOWSKI

I was getting ready to meet friends today, so I showered, shaved and got dressed. As I finished dressing, I noticed a bottle of after shave on my dresser. I usually do not use after shave as most do not appeal to me. But this bottle of after shave was given to me while I was in a Rehabilitation Center, where I was due to my Multiple Sclerosis.

I was in the Rehabilitation Center over Thanksgiving and I was feeling a little depressed, I wanted to be out with friends enjoying this time of year. As I sat there a volunteer came to my room for their routine visit, we chatted for awhile, I told her how I was depressed because of the holidays, and that I was just in the dumps.

After we finished talking she left my room and I went back to aimlessly staring at my television. A few minutes later the volunteer returned to my room carrying a small bag. She told me that she also sold Avon and that she had just what I needed to make me feel better. She handed me the bag, smiled, wished me a Happy Thanksgiving then left before I could even open the bag.

I opened the bag and saw a bottle of after shave, soap on a rope, and deodorant. In the bag along with those items was a note, she had written, "When you are feeling sad, use one of these, they will perk you up and remind you that someone cares and loves you."

I stood there holding the bottle in my hand and applied some after shave, inhaling the fragrance I was reminded that someone does love me and cares for me. That volunteer came to see me on a regular basis and we had many long conversations, but when she came I never felt depressed or down in the dumps.

So as I get ready to meet my new friends, I wear that after shave, it reminds me of the love, kindness and understanding of friends.