FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE WOMAN WITH THE ROSE ~ 02 September 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

THE WOMAN WITH THE ROSE

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City.

He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding.

Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting...7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel."

So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:

A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl.

A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat.. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "and I will tell you who you are."

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Woke up about 7...dragged my blankie out to the lounger and woke up at 10:30a...nice! Put in a couple hours at work, stopped at the store on the way home and got stuck in traffic...walked in just in time to post almost on time. LOL!

Couple errands tomorrow, get gas, and time to rest. No work Monday!! d:o)

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Yes, it was a great day at the museum. Great in that I finally got the last of the uniforms that are on mannequins dealt with. They’re a real pain in the back to wrestle around and the ol’ back is voicing its displeasure. LOL!
Next week will be easy sailing unless they throw another curveball like they did with the mannequins.

Did you spend any time out on your deck enjoying the pretty day?

It was ugly hot here for a while, then rain and storms rolled in to cool things off for a while. Then the sun came back out about the time I came home and it was a sauna. Going to be pretty much the same thing for the next week.

I believe I’m ready for autumn now. :-)

[radu]

Sounds like you’ve had a great couple of days and have more fun ahead. I hope the weather behaves so you can thoroughly enjoy the day.

[E.G.C.]

We’ll see how things go with the weather today. There’s a slight chance of rain in the forecast.

[radu]

Oooooo! Got to actually SLEEP! Felt GOOD, didn’t it? LOL! And you have TWO more mornings you can do it again!

[radu]

Maybe you’ll get lucky and it won’t rain until after you’ve gone out, if it rains at all. Might not hurt to have an umbrella handy, just in case. :-)

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Army Bro!

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours! All is well at Castle MacNessa.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!



Amazing Grace
(Click)
By John Newton

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND
OUR BELOVED NATION!

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

(Joshua 1:9 KJV)

"The Lord's Prayer"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The U.S. Air Force Band
And Singing Sergeants
(Click)

DEAR LORD, who suffered torment, agony, and death upon the Cross to free our souls from the chains of iniquity, protect and defend our troops. Guide them in the performance of their duties. Strengthen them to endure hardship, danger and deprivation in Your service. Let their efforts free the people of Iraq and Afghanistan from the chains of terror and slavery, foster a lasting peace in the region, and bring all to a greater share in Your Mercy. Amen.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR
TROOPS AND
OUR BELOVED NATION!

THE NAVY HYMN
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save"
United States Marine Corps Band and Choir
(Click)



The Marine Corps Verse:





A Blessed Lord’s Day To You And Yours!

[SkyDancer]

Good Day Kathy! (((HUGS))) - just did two red-eye flights, have a day off then back on schedule again. Should be home by Tuesday for four days.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mac.....#50!!