It had been a month since Cookie Granpa had died. Mom was still deeply depressed. She remembered his fondness for her and how he had liked her even though his first meeting with her had awakened him from a sound sleep in the middle of the night, when his son's friend had brought her to visit unexpectedly. He had recently purchased a new camera and was meticulous about his photography. He had taken slides of our entire family since the first Christmas mom spent with dad. Many precious moments were captured in his pictures for a lifetime of wonderful memories. When he discovered he had cancer and not too long to live, he planned a special vacation for us all in the Pocono Mountains.

We stayed at a farmhouse, where there were all sorts of animals, a swimming pool and delicious home cooking served family style, which pleased Cookie Gramma, who was adamant that we all eat properly. Cookie Granpa was a person who had joined the army before he finished high school and when he returned from the war, he directly entered college, but when it came graduation time, they would not give him a diploma because he had not graduated from high school. He did not receive that diploma until 30 years later. Hence, he strongly promoted 'education' for his son, Bob, and his 9 grandchildren.

His death was very sad for mom and nothing anyone did seemed to snap her out of her depression. Then came the Sunday when the children all went running to their mom. "Mom! You've GOT to get UP and come see what is here!" They tugged at her arm and lead her to the garage as they spoke, "It was here on the window-sill in the kitchen all day yesterday and last night, but we couldn't get you up to come see it." When mom opened the garage door and looked, she couldn't speak. But something came over her and although it never returned again, it had given mom the message she needed to hear. Her depression vanished from that moment as if it had never ever existed as she stared for about five minutes at the beautiful white dove perched in the garage and looking back at her. We never saw a white dove at the house before or any time after that happening, but every time mom sent flowers to someone who had lost someone dear to them, she always made sure a white dove was inserted into the arrangement.