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Show Thoughts From The Garden . . . by Tonya LeMone "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us". Albert Schweitzer How many times have we thought about giving up on something and out of no where someone is placed in front of you to rekindle that spark. Often that someone is a stranger or it is an act of a simple phone call, but, in essence, it is an expression of gratitude that seems to light the fire again and keeping us pressing forward. This happened to me this very day. After an exceptionally long day with several challenging challeng-ing moments, enough for anyone to become distracted by discouragement, I received a phone call from a stranger. I wasn't able to speak directly with her but a sweet message was left on my phone. It went something like this: "Hi. J hope this is Tonya LeMone's house. I just wanted to tell her how much I enjoy her column in the New Tvnpanogos Times.lt is just so fun to read these things about gardens and trips and things. She just does an excellent job and I wanted her to know..." Ruth I cannot begin to express what this little message on my phone has meant to me. I have replayed it an embarrassing amount of times and didn't delete it because I knew that it would be my next article and I wanted to see those words in print... !yes, a mild ego trip... (now this is the kind of trip I like to take). Actually, I really wondered if anyone ever read my column col-umn other than my close friends and family members. Our children continue to read it because of the potential quiz at Sunday dinner, knowing if they answered with a blank stare, they could just say good-bye to creme-brulee, chocolate torte cake, or. pana cotta. Or, even worse, be on kitchen patrol. As we are approaching the time of year when we traditionally tra-ditionally celebrate gratitude, start early, rekindle the spark in someone, make a difference in someone's life by a mere phone call, a short note or a loaf of bread expressing words of gratitude to them. Ruth, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have made a difference in my life. And as "Ruth" of Biblical times, you are living up to your name. Albert Schweitzer said we will think back with deep gratitude of those who have rekindled the flame within us. I, too, will think back to this day and the sweet words from a stranger on an answering machine will be forever tucked close to my heart. Y"- With gratitude to all of you who DO read my column willingly, thank you and. ... "See you in the garden" |