Magic slate

Gary Cotter was a big and strong that he made his living as an industrial painter. He loved classic cars, Irish music and tell stories to his friends after work at Omega, a restaurant car is open 24 hours. But what was wanted in the world to their children, their grandchildren, Gail, his wife of 37 years ago.

He also loved Christmas. Every year was he who chose the tree, put the decorations and cards hung around the living room of his home in Wisconsin (United States). Affectionate and lively, his family, Gary was everything.

In 2006, he was diagnosed with mouth cancer. On Thanksgiving 2007, was in the final. His family moved from the hospital for terminal care at home. However, as could not bear to leave at the time of year that meant so much to his family, held out until Christmas.

It was his wife who swallowed his own anguish on 18 December and gave permission for her husband to leave them. Gary took his hand and said, "OK, you can go."

When Gary stopped breathing, Gail called her daughter, Michelle, who lived across town. "Dad is gone," he said. Michelle was with her mother. While driving home from his parents, turned on the radio and heard "I'll be home by Christmas." Every time I turned on the radio during the following week, I heard the same song and comforted him. But Gail was broken with grief.

In April, he was with Michelle, her husband and daughters, three and one year. And without realizing it, Christmas came again, and with it the anniversary of the death of her husband. The holiday had become sad for her. He missed his company, his voice, the way they filled the room, the way they filled their lives.

Concerned by the continuing grief of her mother, Michelle planned outings with her. One afternoon, suggested they go shopping in a store where his father liked to look for bargains.

For Gary, a trip to the store at Christmas was like going to the treasure hunt, with surprises at every corner, for all their loved ones. While mother and daughter entered the park, Gail, aware of the concerns of Michelle tried to put happy face. She knew that her grandchildren were eager for the surprises that always appeared on Christmas Day.

But without Gary, buy cheap quotes in this shop was a sadness. Inside the store, they split the two to search through the tables and shelves gifts for girls. Gail wandered listlessly through the back of the store, he saw a pile of magic slates, some tablets on which children can draw and erase anything pressing a button. Gail took one of the boards to try and saw something written on it. He turned to the screen to see what went down. Suddenly he froze. In bold capital letters, the message said "I love Gail." Gail yelled to his daughter: "Come here, quick."

Michelle was a few aisles away, looking at the furniture in a dollhouse. "What happens? Tell me, Mom, "he said. Gail called again. This time, Michelle realized the urgency with which his mother called. She ran to her side.

Gail held the slate with trembling hands. "Did you write this?" Asked his daughter. Michelle shook her head. The writing is like that of Gary. Gail is a fairly common name. Anyone passing could have written the words for any reason at any time: a teen teasing his girlfriend, a husband apologizing to his wife, a father showing his love for his daughter. But Gail would know for whom the message.

"God," he said. "Dad gave me a sign."

Gail bought the board and told the clerk of the box that will not erase the message. She and her daughter took the game home. Gail put it in his room, away from girls, a little touch and the message is erased forever. A year later, still there: a promise for all future Christmases.