One Last Kiss

CBS ^ | 5-22-03 | CBS The Early Show

[JustPiper]

Ninety-one year-old Alice Butler lives in Florida, but her heart is far away. It was stolen long ago by a stranger in the desert sun.

Alice was 18 when she married and it wasn't long before she had the first of her seven children. When her husband's health faltered in the mid-1940s, they moved to the desert heat of Tucson, Ariz., where Alice would meet the love of her life.

It happened one day, as Alice walked with her young son, Vernon. The child suddenly slipped from her grasp, and darted into the path of an oncoming bus.

"I had him pretty good but he broke away just as the bus came,” she recalls.

Luckily, a quick-thinking stranger pulled the boy out of harm's way.

The hero was Horace Rabago. He was handsome, dashing and quite taken with Alice.

Alice remembers, “He was good looking, though. He still is.”

Yet, there would be no whirlwind romance.

She says, “Of course, he wasn't married. But I was.”

Still, the friendship begun that day would last a lifetime.

But the timing was never right. When Alice eventually divorced, Horace was married. When Horace's wife died, Alice had already tied the knot with someone else. The two met briefly in 1972 and then went their separate ways again.

By the spring of 2002, Alice was gravely ill and slipping away.

Her granddaughter Kasey McMahan remembers, “The doctors called the family together and said our grandmother was going to die.”

Then, she started getting phone calls from a long-lost friend in Arizona.

Kasey notes, “Her health has turned around tremendously.”

Since then, Alice and Horace have spoken by phone nearly every day.

Alice says, “Each time I hang up, I feel better, I do. Can't believe I'm 92 years old still saying I love you to somebody.”

And her granddaughter Kasey wished that she could say it in person. In her letter, she wrote:

“My wish is for my grandmother to get one last visit with her special love before they both leave us for a better place one day.”

Well last week, Kasey’s wish came true.

The plan was to fly in and surprise Horace. After three decades and two plane rides, Alice Butler was back in his hometown. With a little help, she was able to leave her wheelchair and walk the last few steps to his house under her own power.

Inside, Horace had no clue who might be on the other side of his door.

As he answered the door, he greeted her with “Halloooo!!!

In his eyes, she was as beautiful as ever.

He said, “She looks fine, same Alice that I used to know!”

Together at last, Alice and Horace just held each other and smiled.

“I love you, too,” he said to her and they kissed.

Horace wanted to live out the remainder of his days with Alice and his wish came true as well. This past Monday morning, just before sunrise, Horace Rabago died peacefully at the age of 93, surrounded by his family, his friends, and the woman he never stopped loving.

[JustPiper]

Here I am watching for the Ruben/Clay interviews and on comes this Last Kiss. Now I will be no good for the rest of the day. I cried like my love died, I could not stop crying! This was such a beautiful and sad story and to watch Alice live, here she was suppose to die but Horace contacting her literally brought her back! Then a few days they got to share and Boom, Horace leaves! Be glad you did not see this.....sniff.

[JustPiper]

Ok a tearjerker Ping but it will keep us all honest, humble and more greatful...I share this with my friends...got Kleenex?

[JustPiper]

Ok forgot to tell you there are many more great Week of Wishes stories:

Here

[ImpotentRage]

What a lovely story. How sad that they couldn't have had a life together. For of all sad words of tongue or pen....

[JustPiper]

Doing my Ann Margaret impression:

One Last Kiss, just give me one last kiss, it never felt like this......Bye! Bye Horace ;(

[JustPiper]

Glad you found your way here to this post Rage...I feel this story will make us better people and thoughtful today ;)

[JustPiper]

And let me welcome you aboard!!! Glad your here ;)

[JustPiper]

Damn, I just reread this and crying again...LOL!

[wimpycat]

Here, have a hanky.

[jonalvy44]

thx for the story...

[wimpycat]

2 Hanky ping

[Blood of Tyrants]

Must have gotten something in my eye...

[eyespysomething]

Thanks. Thanks for posting such a great story!



oh and thanks a lot for making me cry at work!

[Constitution Day]

So very touching.
The song "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones comes to my mind.

[JustPiper]

You are so kind,thank you- sniff-blow-honk. Hey is Tangie a girl? She looks just like my Harley!

[JustPiper]

Thanks. Thanks for posting such a great story! oh and thanks a lot for making me cry at work!

Don't yell at me LMAO! Can you not see I am grieving for Horace girl?Waaaaaaa...Have a great day at work ;)

[JustPiper]

Share it with all those you love and maybe even your enemies Jon ;)

[JustPiper]

Must have gotten something in my eye...

Ok the least I can do now is give you all a prideful smile:

Here

[PBRSTREETGANG]

This past Monday morning, just before sunrise, Horace Rabago died peacefully at the age of 93...

See... women 'll kill you.

(Just kidding.)

[JustPiper]

So very touching. The song "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones comes to my mind.

Gee, thanx now your making me cry, the songs lyrics going on in my head...Sniff! The "I'm bbbbbuying stock in Kleenex" Piper