A GIVING HEART

Oh hello, let me tell you a weird story. You may not believe any of this but.....

Every day I walk through a park, which is gorgeous to stroll through on the way to work. There are even a few statues....this is truly a gem.  

On one of my many treks through the park, I noticed an old man sitting by a statue of a female. The man had on a worn black car coat and a vintage silk paisley scarf. He looked like he was from the Silver Screen era....suave & distinguished.  He quietly mumbled to himself as he stared at the statue. How odd it was to watch him, but I couldn't help myself. In all my days of walking through the park,  I had never noticed this man before. Every day for the next week I saw the old man sitting by the same statue doing the same thing.

I couldn't stop thinking about the old man all weekend.  I decided Monday I would bring a thermos of coffee and pastry to share and chat with him.  The poor guy looked so lonely. Monday came and there he was in the same spot, by the statue. When I  got close enough to the man I just stood and waited to be noticed. 7 minutes later he was chattering like an excited schoolboy.  The old guy asked so many questions about me, in between sips of coffee and bites of  Italian pastry.                                                              Every time I asked questions about him, the old gentleman would say, "I'd rather learn about you".

And so It was...I would sit with him either in the morning or at lunch for months. It's a good thing I owned my own business. This made my schedule flexible enough to be able to meet with the old guy.

I finally learned that the old man's name was Linus Mark and he was 90years old, but with his youthful energy; I would have said he was 55.  After several months, I invited Linus to my place for dinner. We talked about music, movies and my business. Linus left at 9 o'clock. I offered to take him home but he chuckled and stated he had a ride and smiled cryptically.

One day Linus talked about regrets and mentioned some people he wished he could locate. Going through the usual process, he turned up nothing. Admitting that he just didn't have any tolerance for computers Linus gave me a weathered list of names. It only took me a week to track everyone down.  I was happy that I could help and Linus was grateful.                      

 Linus wasn't up to travelling and wanted to be near his statue, so visiting my family with me at Christmas time was not possible. Because I had promised to spend time with my nieces and nephews, I had to go. I gave Linus one of his Christmas presents early...an iPad. I taught him how to set everything up and how to use it,  so  I could share Christmas dinner and my family with him.  I had Christmas dinner delivered to his house, we all sat and ate at the same time.  My family, nieces and nephews introduced themselves to Linus... Mr. Linus. The kids thanked him for the gifts he sent along for them. That was really thoughtful....the kids genuinely loved their presents and they drew pictures for him. I could tell Linus was enjoying himself. Linus was the perfect dinner guest. Linus laughed so hard we played charades and sang the loudest during Kareoke. A few days later, New Year's Eve was even better. Linus loves old movies so we watched "the greats". We talked so much about goals and hopes.

A week after Linus' 91st birthday, he ended up in the hospital.  We still visited daily and I would take him to visit his statue.  On my birthday I received a vintage birthday card and a key. Linus could be very mysterious at times. I followed the instructions that came with the key,

"Carry with you at all times"

I was able to learn more about Linus (every once in a while).  He was married to someone named, Pia. He seemed to have loved her immensely. Their wedding anniversary was coming up. This gave me an idea that I hoped Linus would love.  Calling in some favours, I had the Commissioner (College friend) close the park at dusk.  My employees helped clean an area by the statue, clean the statue and string mini-lights, set up a small table with everything (table cloth, cutlery, glasses, plates etc), my brother (who is a Chef) made Linus' favourite meal and dessert. My sister who played the violin ( recorded songs to be played during dinner)....the kids made the nicest card and I hooked up a heavy-duty heater to make sure Linus would be warm.

Linus was more than overwhelmed. He was surprised that I knew it was his wedding anniversary. I managed to find a bit of information on Pia, his wife. I didn't want to overstep my boundaries. Linus talked a bit about Pia. He said she was a giver and how she changed his life... she made it better.

Just before Linus went home he handed me an envelope and whispered, "Please do her proud. Pia would have liked you".

Here's the unbelievable part...

In a big envelope was $20,000.00 and a  smaller envelope with monies to cover expenses I may have to incur. I was stunned!  It's not every day that someone hands me 20 grand, in an envelope. There was no doubt from the note, that Linus wanted me to take this money and do something special with it for others or keep it.

 He made it clear that he trusted my decision. Linus spent our whole dinner talking about how much of a giver Pia was.

"$20,000.00... What can I do with $20,000.00?" I stated in disbelief to myself.

 Then I started thinking about how I could stretch the money, so I could give to many instead of a few people; in memory of Pia.

I didn't want to take too long with this task but I wanted to make the right decisions. I was excited because this was going to be fun.

I got to work researching organizations, schools, camps etc. I was able to stretch the $ 20,000.00... giving money to some Schools in need of library books, Summer camps, Food and Homeless Shelters, money for 2 Outdoor Community Hockey Rinks, money to a Children's  Heart Hospital, Art programs, money for a  N.I.C Unit,  money to a program for kids with Special Needs....and one selfish gift -  A small plaque to commemorate Pia Mark and her Giving Heart.  

At the end of this 2-month endeavour, I took the portfolio to Linus. He seemed quite pleased as he read the endowments and the itemized spending sheet at the back of the portfolio.

"But you didn't use all of it...the monies from the second envelope?"  Linus asked in a puzzled manner.

"I used some but I needed the bulk of it for this,"  I said. Linus began to cry when I presented him with Pia's plaque and told him that the plaque was to be mounted in the Children's Heart Hospital.

A small reception was thrown in Pia and Linus' honour at the Hospital and the plaque was mounted on the wall of the N.I.C Unit. Linus was able to hold a few 'Heart- Babies'. One of the babies was a Preemie. She was so tiny..3lbs 2oz, Adia was her name, beautiful 'Lil doll'. She was born with Downs Syndrome and Arterial Ventricular Septal Defect (she had 3 holes in her heart). I don't think I could have held her... did I mention how small she was? I would have been worried about hurting her.  Not Linus... I have never seen Linus look more elated... a natural.

Months later Linus' health deteriorated and he announced that he wanted to go home, home as in Italy to rest. He said it was something that he felt he should do alone. He was adamant.

 Linus died not too long after that. While he was gone I visited the statue at our park every day. When I learned of his passing I couldn't bring myself to visit at all.

One day I received an obscure phone call. The caller simply said, "It's Mr. Mark's wish that we meet today at the statue at 1:30 pm. I'm his attorney.  Can we meet?"

I agreed and once at the statue, I was handed a large envelope with a card.

A vintage Anniversary card from Linus... said, " We have known each other for what feels like forever and a day. You will never know what our friendship meant to me. Thank you, Linus"

At home, I went thru the envelope. " Please place this little black notebook at the base of my lady in the park." The note stated:   "Put this to good use as I know you will."

My curiosity got the better of me and I started reading the small black notebook. It was a story about Linus and his Pia, the love of his life. How they met and their life together. The boy lost in childbirth due to a heart condition. He talked about the wanted children they could never have; about his many businesses and monies given away.  Linus talked about how Pia loved to give and that he didn't want her to be forgotten. It was because of Pia and her giving heart why so much was given.

I was mentioned in the little black notebook. It seems as though I would have been around the same age as Linus' son or so. Every time Linus saw me walking through the park he thought; had his son survived he would have looked like me.

The day I approached Linus was one of the happiest days of his life. Linus wrote how he wanted to approach me but wasn't sure how. He didn't want to look insane. He mentioned Christmas via the iPad and the Wedding Anniversary dinner at the park. He talked about how grateful he was to be able to spend time with me...and wanted to make sure my business didn't suffer because of him. He also talked briefly about how impressed he was with what I did with the $20,000.00  he had given to me. Linus talked to Pia about everything and how badly he wished she and I could have met. An ' Impressive Young Man' is what he called me.

I went to the park armed with the little black notebook. At the base of the statue was a small keyhole. THE KEY?! The key that accompanied my birthday card, I kept it with me at all times....and now I knew why Linus wanted me to do so. On a chain, in my wallet was the key... I quickly took the key out ... It fit!

"Just like Linus... mysterious", I chuckled.

Inside the little door was an engraved forever message of love: 'Someday Pia, we will be together. You are my heart, gone but not forgotten. I love you. Linus M.'

As I was placing the little black notebook inside the opened base, I hit something... a safety deposit box with two laminated pictures and another letter.  The black and white photos were of Linus and Pia Mark. What a beautiful lady, so statuesque... I couldn't help but admire how the artist had captured her beauty.

On the envelope attached to the safety deposit box was written  "Please read at home, I hope you are up for this mission because it's bigger than the last. I also hope you don't mind but your life is about to change tremendously."  

"I will miss you, my friend," I sighed. 

I left the little black notebook inside the base of the statue, locked it and went home. Home to start a whole new adventure, thanks to an old man  I met by the statue...Linus.