The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know.I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being.

 She said, "Hi,handsome.My name is Rose.I'm eighty-seven years old.Can I give you a hug? "I laughed and enthusiastically responded,"Of course you may!"and she gave me a giant squeeze."Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age? "I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband,get married,have a couple of children,and then retire and travel."No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age."I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends.

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. 

That night I call to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie"What's wrong,are you well,"she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news."I thought that it would be pleasant to be with you,"I responded. "Just the two of us.She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much. "That Friday after work, as I drove overto pick her up I was a bit nervous.When i arrived at her house,I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on.She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn

This is not exactly a love story, but more about learning how to respect love ....

Friends. A simple word isn't it? It's uttered everyday to almost every person imaginable. Who are your friends? I used to think that friends were the people that you could laugh and talk to. Now I know that friends aren't that, they're the people that touch your hearts.