To coin a phrase...

Grab your favorite beverage, 'cause another family story is about to be told. It is the set of circumstances which resulted in a phrase being 'coined forever' and remains relevant some 40 years later.

A little background ...in as few words as is possible.

My father's death resulted in my mother's journey into some new and different experiences. I was a senior in college and still living at home during this transition as she to adjusted to her new life. Flo was 59 and worked as a secretary. Her 'Gal Pals' were still meeting at each other's homes semi -regularly for dinner and planning their next [yearly]Broadway Show trip. The 'club' eventually began to face the reality of its members passing on, a sad reality, for sure. The unexpected death of one member was to change Mom's life forever.

Two years after my father died, one of Flo's girlfriends , at whose wedding my mom was a bridesmaid, passed quite unexpectedly in May. Her husband, now a widower, was beyond despondent and his two sons convinced him to 'call Florence' and just get together as two friends spending some time together. So Ray finally called and asked Flo if she would consider watching the Miss America Pageant together and she agreed. [In the 70's, that was entertainment.] They had a good time...

Blah, blah, blah...they began unofficially ....going out more often...dating.

Fast forward a couple of months, and a second man [ again someone she had known as a club member's husband] sought out Flo's company. Basically a very shy woman, Flo had her own reservations about accepting this second invitation because I would have to say that she had already formed an impression of him based upon a couple of things...one of them being that he smoked.

"Just go out to dinner and then decide how you feel."

And so she did.

When I returned home and asked her how it went, Flo let loose with some details as to her one and only date that wouldn't soon be forgotten.

"First of all, though he chose a very nice restaurant, he ordered 'cocktails for two' at a pace that was too fast for me. And it was impossible to not compare him to Ray, and there was no comparison! Then he took me home and told me what a great time he/we had, and leaned in to hug and kiss me. And when I took a step back, he had the nerve to say...

'What are you saving it for?'

"Well, I guess not for you!!"

Can you believe that?

That moment has been captured in time, and has lived on some 40+ years. When Mom would receive a beautiful pair of pajamas, for example, she wouldn't want to wear them immediately. She would place them in her bottom drawer of the spare room presumably saving them for a special occasion. We now would chuckle and remind her of the...

'What are you saving it for?'

For her grandchild's wedding, we found a stunning pantsuit outfit that she looked beautiful in and after the wedding, she stowed it away probably awaiting a presidential inauguration or likewise royal event.

"I'm going to save it!"

Well, she certainly set that one up for us. Again, we smiled and reminded her,

"What are you saving it for?"

Believe me, the phrase lends itself to so-o-o many different applications.

My email mailbox was at 72% capacity because I was saving jokes and amazing pictures.

What am I saving them for? It is now at 13% capacity.

The moral of the story is: You never know what tomorrow may bring. Use the good stuff. Put the really soft sheets on the bed. Wear your favorite outfit. Give the next generation what you can whether it be some time or some money or some 'reservations' and enjoy the smiles because you won't get to see them when you are gone.

Are you wondering what happened to Flo?

She had been a bridesmaid in Ray's first wedding, and the bride in his second wedding! They had known each other for a long time, each living separate lives until they were 62 and fate kind of paired them up. They were great for each other and had nine years of good times together. Some very funny stories in those nine years that I will share sometime soon.

What am I saving them for?

You will have to stay tuned to share in the laughter.