I made a decision when I was driving to the vacation beach cottage(小屋). To myself, I had to say that I had been a selfish husband and father. I wanted to change. I should give as much love as I can to my family.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Mary at the door and said, "That new yellow sweater looks great on you. "
"Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said, surprised and pleased.
Two weeks of not calling the company where I work; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums; a walk with Mary on the beach while the children flew their kites. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed. I made a new decision to keep on remembering to choose love.
But on the last night at our cottage, Mary looked at me with the saddest expression.
"What's the matter?" I asked her.
"Tom," she said in a voice filled with sadness, "do you know something I don't?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... that checkup(体检) I had several weeks ago... , our doctor... did he tell you something about me? Tom, you've been so good to me...am I dying?"
After hearing this, I started laughing. "No, honey," I said, holding her in my arms. "You're not dying.I'm just starting to live."