Topic: Before I go to bed, I want to share a story with you. Please read.
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 started this discussion 15 years ago #3,573
So, today is my 25th birthday. I was just at a friend's house drinking and having a good time. I drive home (after sobering up), and there is a plate for me in the fridge. Yes, I still live with my parents, but that's what happens when you get out of college, have a lot of debt, and can't afford to move out and get a place of your own because you can't find a better job than the one paying you about $13K a year after deductions and taxes, etc.
So anyway, the plate has a delicious medium-rare steak, lots of sauteed mushrooms and onions that taste like they've been cooked in wine, and a bunch of chopped up, spiced, and fried potatoes. I heat it up in the microwave for about 2 minutes, and I dunno if it's because of my starving diet, or the fact that I still had a tiny bit of alcohol in me, or the fact that it was my first real meal since turning 25, or a combination of factors, but it tastes like one of the best meals that I've ever had in my life. It's so good, in fact, that I burst into tears. Tears of joy like I've never felt before. It was that good. And as I'm eating it and crying like a baby, I realized something. It wasn't the taste or satisfaction I was crying over, it was the love. My parents know damn well that I'm 25 years old, I can easily take care of myself for the most part, I can easily pick up a meal on my way home and use credit cards even if I have a $0 balance in my bank account. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for them to just finish off the meal they just prepared and not leave me anything, and if they had, I wouldn't have blamed them at all. The only reason I still live here is to keep a roof over my head until I'm on my feet, and they only do that because I'm their son, and they're not even obligated to do that. Even though they could easily say that they do enough for me, and not give a fuck, they do give a fuck. They give enough of a fuck that, even though I don't need their charity, they will prepare extra food for me, put everything on a plate, wrap it in plastic so that it's ready to be microwaved, place it in the fridge, and not even expect so much as a thank you in return. And they do all this out of love. Not because I'm struggling and they sympathize, not because I need the food, not because I asked, not because they want so much as a thank you in return. They did it all just because they love me. And that, is the real reason why I cried tears of joy as I ate this delicious meal they prepared. That is why it tasted like the most delicious meal I've ever had in my life.
This got me thinking even deeper. I thought about all the parents who had lost their children because of war or other disasters. All the children who had lost their parents. All the children whose parents love them just as much but don't have the prosperity to put food on the table like my parents do. All the children who deserve love but have parents who kick them to the street when they turn 18. The list goes on. It made me realize how lucky I am, to have people who care about me so much, that one simple meal can have that much of an impact. It made me appreciate everything I have, and how much I don't deserve, especially considering how hard some people work for much less.
So, I left them a little note, thanking them for the meal, telling them that it was one of the best steaks I've ever had, and that I love them. Do me a favor, MC. If you're one of the lucky ones who have parents or a parent like this, no matter how long it's been since you've seen them, no matter how far away you now live from them, no matter what's come between you, call them, find them, do whatever it takes to get in touch with them, and tell them you love them, and give them a big hug if you can. Do it as a birthday gift for me. That's all I ask.
So anyway, the plate has a delicious medium-rare steak, lots of sauteed mushrooms and onions that taste like they've been cooked in wine, and a bunch of chopped up, spiced, and fried potatoes. I heat it up in the microwave for about 2 minutes, and I dunno if it's because of my starving diet, or the fact that I still had a tiny bit of alcohol in me, or the fact that it was my first real meal since turning 25, or a combination of factors, but it tastes like one of the best meals that I've ever had in my life. It's so good, in fact, that I burst into tears. Tears of joy like I've never felt before. It was that good. And as I'm eating it and crying like a baby, I realized something. It wasn't the taste or satisfaction I was crying over, it was the love. My parents know damn well that I'm 25 years old, I can easily take care of myself for the most part, I can easily pick up a meal on my way home and use credit cards even if I have a $0 balance in my bank account. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for them to just finish off the meal they just prepared and not leave me anything, and if they had, I wouldn't have blamed them at all. The only reason I still live here is to keep a roof over my head until I'm on my feet, and they only do that because I'm their son, and they're not even obligated to do that. Even though they could easily say that they do enough for me, and not give a fuck, they do give a fuck. They give enough of a fuck that, even though I don't need their charity, they will prepare extra food for me, put everything on a plate, wrap it in plastic so that it's ready to be microwaved, place it in the fridge, and not even expect so much as a thank you in return. And they do all this out of love. Not because I'm struggling and they sympathize, not because I need the food, not because I asked, not because they want so much as a thank you in return. They did it all just because they love me. And that, is the real reason why I cried tears of joy as I ate this delicious meal they prepared. That is why it tasted like the most delicious meal I've ever had in my life.
This got me thinking even deeper. I thought about all the parents who had lost their children because of war or other disasters. All the children who had lost their parents. All the children whose parents love them just as much but don't have the prosperity to put food on the table like my parents do. All the children who deserve love but have parents who kick them to the street when they turn 18. The list goes on. It made me realize how lucky I am, to have people who care about me so much, that one simple meal can have that much of an impact. It made me appreciate everything I have, and how much I don't deserve, especially considering how hard some people work for much less.
So, I left them a little note, thanking them for the meal, telling them that it was one of the best steaks I've ever had, and that I love them. Do me a favor, MC. If you're one of the lucky ones who have parents or a parent like this, no matter how long it's been since you've seen them, no matter how far away you now live from them, no matter what's come between you, call them, find them, do whatever it takes to get in touch with them, and tell them you love them, and give them a big hug if you can. Do it as a birthday gift for me. That's all I ask.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later[^] [v] #64,779
Aw. :')
I enjoyed that.
I enjoyed that.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 6 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #64,780
Anonymous B replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 11 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #64,783
Anonymous C didn't read it... Naturally, Minichan will now implode in T-minus 9 hours. FUCK.
Unintentional Jackass !LASXURl1b6 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 26 minutes later, 37 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #64,793
:') That was a wonderful story, man. And happy birthday :)
Homestar !RUNNERV7vk joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,811
Nice, OP. Happy Birthday.
(Edited 22 seconds later.)
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 hours later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,841
Nice sentiment.
Happy birthday Brobro.
Happy birthday Brobro.
Ph !5pM9NZR/l6 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 15 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,846
I'm in a pretty similar situation so I can definitely relate. Happy b-day OP.
Hal Venom !Sk1PNUrCoY joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,895
OP majored in shit subject in college. Had to work at a gas station. Still lives with parents. Parents still cook for him. Cries. Have fun never getting laid, unless your mother feels bad and gives you a sympathy fuck.
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,897
@previous (Hal Venom !Sk1PNUrCoY)
Lol, no. Never worked at a gas station, and I still get laid. Even engineers aren't finding jobs fresh out of college.
Lol, no. Never worked at a gas station, and I still get laid. Even engineers aren't finding jobs fresh out of college.
Nexus !jNexusRe/. joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,898
I don't have parents anymore.
Anonymous F replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,899
totoforme !!hWKWsQ1mC joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #64,967
I'm glad that you appreciate them. So many don't.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 hours later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #65,080
Happy birthday.