| A special Irish Ring can remind us of old times...I was in | | | | My flight home was uneventful and I did not feel as |
| the 2nd year of college when we met, he was an | | | | excited as I usually did. I was emotionally torn between |
| English major and I was in the sciences when we | | | | seeing them and not seeing my new found love, who I |
| found each other at the same party one Friday | | | | had left the evening before. |
| evening. Our encounter was only a few seconds, but it | | | | After arriving at home and seeing everyone, I had |
| was the first time we engaged in conversation. | | | | wanted to give him a call several times to tell him I |
| After that brief meeting, we had seen each other on | | | | missed him, but felt it was too soon. I did not want to |
| campus a couple of times and smiled as we passed | | | | scare him off by badgering him on a daily basis. I |
| each other until another chance meeting just after | | | | thought I would wait until Christmas after opening his |
| Thanksgiving break at a local pizza shop. We again | | | | gift. |
| engaged in subtle conversation over a small pepperoni | | | | Each day was a struggle not to pick up the phone, but |
| pie. | | | | I could think of nothing else. I was distracted from the |
| After an hour, we agreed to go out that Friday | | | | typical family gatherings and nights out with my friends. |
| evening for a drink and dinner at one of the local | | | | Finally, Christmas morning arrived and I found myself |
| restaurants. I was not that interested, but had been | | | | more excited than previous years. Christmas was |
| intrigued with his demeanor and willingness to listen | | | | always special, but it seemed to have a bit more |
| intently when I talked, a very rare quality in most men. | | | | meaning this year as I anticipated opening the small |
| Once the date was out of the way, I felt that | | | | package he had given me. |
| unfamiliar pang and wanted to spend more time with | | | | I knew it would be something special, and pulled the |
| him. We had spent a great deal of time together up | | | | package from my drawer where I had placed it when |
| until Christmas break. I found out his family was of Irish | | | | I came home. It was neatly wrapped in green paper |
| descent and that he was brought up by his mother | | | | with a white bow. I was amazed at how well it was |
| after his father died when he was 5 years old. As | | | | wrapped, as guys are known to fail miserably in this |
| Christmas was approaching and mid-terms were | | | | department. |
| looming, our time together was limited and more | | | | I gently opened the package and could feel the |
| precious as we had becoming more and more | | | | excitement building as I made it through the paper and |
| infatuated with each other. | | | | saw a small wooden box. On top was a cream |
| On the eve of my trip back home, we had met for | | | | colored card with an Irish poem written on the inside. |
| coffee. Since I had an early flight back home, I knew | | | | My eyes welled up as I read it and opened the small |
| our time would be limited and our time together was | | | | wooden box. Inside, I found a small silver and gold Irish |
| even more special. After several minutes, when he felt | | | | ring sitting in a white satin pillow. |
| the time was right, he pulled out a small package and | | | | My heart was pounding and my thoughts were reeling. |
| gave it to me. I promised not to open until Christmas | | | | I composed myself and picked up the phone... that was |
| morning, and we gently kissed goodbye. The snow | | | | 27 years ago, and to this day your grandfather still |
| had begun to fall. | | | | takes my breath away. |