I just wrote a long overdue thank you letter to an old friend that I haven’t seen or talked to in over 40 years. I worked for this gentleman and his wife in their florist shop my first two years in college, and felt the need to say thank you to him for the powerful influence he had on my life. He’s a 90 something now, a widower living in a retirement community, and I share this in case there’s someone you need to say thanks to before it’s too late.
Here’s what I wrote:
“I’m writing this because I want to express my appreciation for the good times I enjoyed working for you and especially for the kind and compassionate way you treated me. I hope you don’t even remember all the times I messed up by wrecking your vehicles or by driving around the block so I didn’t have to parallel park the truck there by the back door of the shop. We worked ridiculously long hours around holidays, especially those Thanksgiving weekends getting ready for the Christmas open house. I trust you figured out how to simplify things in your more mature years!! But even if you didn’t I know you made the work fun. I’ve been so lucky to have really good places to work MOST of my life, but I have always appreciated what I learned from you about how to work with people under some pretty stressful times and still get along and laugh together.
I confess I have used you several times as a sermon illustration of how kindness and understanding are not only the Christian way to treat people; they are actually the best way to call forth the very best effort and loyalty from others. My case in point that I will never forget was the day sometime in the mid 60’s you got a bright new Pontiac convertible – I think it was yellow. This was after I had already wrecked your truck, your car and even your lawn tractor while mowing your lawn. We had a delivery that needed to be made and the truck was out on another run; so you handed me the keys to that brand new car that I don’t think your wife had driven yet and trusted me to take in to make a delivery. You could have knocked me over with a feather, and my old heart is still warmed at that memory.
You see at that point in my life no authority figure in my life had ever treated me with that kind of trust and respect, and I have treasured that memory and all the other life lessons I learned working with you for lo these 50 plus years. And I just wanted to say thanks.”
Peacefully Harsh 
Dear Rev. Harsh, Beautiful tribute to such a kind, generous friend of very long ago. I’m sure he understood the Sweetness and grateful Thanks you offered…I loved reading it too. I always enjoy your E-mail writings. Thanks for your own insight and always inspirational messages. Sincerely, Kathleen Reiss Charlotte, NC
On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 9:40 PM Peacefully Harsh wrote:
> Steve Harsh posted: “I just wrote a long overdue thank you letter to an > old friend that I haven’t seen or talked to in over 40 years. I worked for > this gentleman and his wife in their florist shop my first two years in > college, and felt the need to say thank you to him for t” > Respond to this post by replying above this line > New post on *Peacefully Harsh* > Say Thanks While You Can > by Steve > Harsh > > > I > just wrote a long overdue thank you letter to an old friend that I haven’t > seen or talked to in over 40 years. I worked for this gentleman and his > wife in their florist shop my first two years in college, and felt the need > to say thank you to him for the powerful influence he had on my life. He’s > a 90 something now, a widower living in a retirement community, and I share > this in case there’s someone you need to say thanks to before it’s too late. > > Here’s wh
Steve, I really enjoyed this! Of course, I wanted to know…did you manage to make the delivery in that yellow convertible without having an accident??? Just wondering…
this made me think of lots of people that I should say thank you to…
Love reading your blog. It always makes me think, makes me feel grateful, and always there is something to smile at as I read.
Hope you and Diana are doing fine and your garden is growing. My 3 tomatoes are going great guns, as is the Red Russian kale. It soothes the soul these days to work in the yard!
Am just so happy to hear Ava has improved so much.
Take care and stay safe and enjoy the golf, Norma
From: Peacefully Harsh Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:40 PM To: sparkysaunt6@hotmail.com Subject: [New post] Say Thanks While You Can
Steve Harsh posted: “I just wrote a long overdue thank you letter to an old friend that I haven’t seen or talked to in over 40 years. I worked for this gentleman and his wife in their florist shop my first two years in college, and felt the need to say thank you to him for t” Respond to this post by replying above this line
New post on Peacefully Harsh
Say Thanks While You Can by Steve Harsh
I just wrote a long overdue thank you letter to an old friend that I haven’t seen or talked to in over 40 years. I worked for this gentleman and his wife in their florist shop my first two years in college, and felt the need to say thank you to him for the powerful influence he had on my life. He’s a 90 something now, a widower living in a retirement community, and I share this in case there’s someone you need to say thanks to before it’s too late.
Here’s wh
Yes I managed to not damage that vehicle!