Four brothers left home for college, and all became very successful and prosperous professionals in their respective fields.
One time, they all happened to be in the same city either for business and/or pleasure, and they decided to meet in a restaurant. During dinner, as conversations often are, theirs went from one topic to another until it drifted to family affairs in which they exchanged stories about, among other things, gifts for their elderly mother, who lived far away in another city.
The first said, "This Christmas, I plan to build a big house for Mama."
The second said, “That's interesting because I plan to have a theater with all the bells and whistles built in her house. It will cost approximately $100,000 altogether."
The third said, "Well, I'm getting her the latest top of the line Mercedes, and am even having the dealer personally deliver it to her."
The fourth said, "You know how Mama loved to read, especially the Bible, and since her eyesight had been failing and she can't read much anymore, I am getting her this mynah bird that can not only sing famous operatic arias and very fluently speak 5 languages, but, most of all, it can also recite the entire Bible. All that Mama has to do is name the book, chapter and verse, and the bird will recite it to her. It took more than 10 years to train and teach the talented bird. It costs $100,000 but I think it is worth every penny."
A few years later, the mother died and during the funeral, unbeknownst to one another, when each son stood to give his tribute, each one brought and read a thank you note from mother, and each note ended with "Luv ya, Mama". The notes went as follows. . . .
"Dear Milton. . .I greatly appreciate the house you built for me. Since it is so huge, I live in only one room, and I have to hire a woman to come and clean the whole house each week. Anyway, thank you ever so much for your generosity."
"Dear Michael. . .Thank you for the expensive theater with Dolby surround sound with seats to accommodate 50 people. It is very impressive but all of my truly close and dear friends are all gone now. Also, as you know aside from having lost my hearing, I'm nearly totally blind as well. So, I've never really used it. Thank you just the same for your very thoughtful gesture."
"Dear Marvin. . .Thank you very much for the Mercedes. As you know, I am now too old to drive and travel and so I stay home. Also, I have my groceries delivered, so I never really get out of the house, much less use the Mercedes. However, the thought was really nice and very much appreciated."
"Dearest Melvin. . .You are the only one among your brothers to have the good sense to give some thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you very much."
Author Unknown
One time, they all happened to be in the same city either for business and/or pleasure, and they decided to meet in a restaurant. During dinner, as conversations often are, theirs went from one topic to another until it drifted to family affairs in which they exchanged stories about, among other things, gifts for their elderly mother, who lived far away in another city.
The first said, "This Christmas, I plan to build a big house for Mama."
The second said, “That's interesting because I plan to have a theater with all the bells and whistles built in her house. It will cost approximately $100,000 altogether."
The third said, "Well, I'm getting her the latest top of the line Mercedes, and am even having the dealer personally deliver it to her."
The fourth said, "You know how Mama loved to read, especially the Bible, and since her eyesight had been failing and she can't read much anymore, I am getting her this mynah bird that can not only sing famous operatic arias and very fluently speak 5 languages, but, most of all, it can also recite the entire Bible. All that Mama has to do is name the book, chapter and verse, and the bird will recite it to her. It took more than 10 years to train and teach the talented bird. It costs $100,000 but I think it is worth every penny."
A few years later, the mother died and during the funeral, unbeknownst to one another, when each son stood to give his tribute, each one brought and read a thank you note from mother, and each note ended with "Luv ya, Mama". The notes went as follows. . . .
"Dear Milton. . .I greatly appreciate the house you built for me. Since it is so huge, I live in only one room, and I have to hire a woman to come and clean the whole house each week. Anyway, thank you ever so much for your generosity."
"Dear Michael. . .Thank you for the expensive theater with Dolby surround sound with seats to accommodate 50 people. It is very impressive but all of my truly close and dear friends are all gone now. Also, as you know aside from having lost my hearing, I'm nearly totally blind as well. So, I've never really used it. Thank you just the same for your very thoughtful gesture."
"Dear Marvin. . .Thank you very much for the Mercedes. As you know, I am now too old to drive and travel and so I stay home. Also, I have my groceries delivered, so I never really get out of the house, much less use the Mercedes. However, the thought was really nice and very much appreciated."
"Dearest Melvin. . .You are the only one among your brothers to have the good sense to give some thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you very much."
Author Unknown