罗恩·菲利普·戈尔德/KaronPhilipsGoodman

, Ineverfullyappreciatedthedepthoftheoldlady’-adaythatmademetherichestkidintown.

Mom, Dad, AuntSophie, UncleBillandIsataroundasmallconferencetableinherattorney’-theproceedsofhersmallinsurancepolicy, anantiquecameo, afewbracelets, , herbankaccount, afewsharesofstockinthelocalGasandElectricCompany, aswellastheAmericanflagshewaspresentedwithatGrandpaEdwin’smilitaryfuneral.

Aswerosetoleave, theattorneysaid,“therearethreemorethings.”Hereachedintohisbriefcaseandbroughtoutasmalljewelrybox, aletter, andastackofenvelopesneatlywrappedintissuepaperandtiedwithafadingpinkribbon.“Jeffrey, yourGrandmotherleftyouherdiamondengagementring, hopingyou’llmakegooduseofitsoon.”Everyonesmiled.

“Thesearealsoforyou, Jeffrey,”hesaid.“Itmaybethemostpreciouslegacyofall-aletterandthisstackoflovenotes.”Grandma’sletterbegan,“DearJeffrey, .”

-aguidebookthatwillteachyouhowtoloveawoman, howtounderstandpeople, andhowtorespectandmaintainyourintegrity.

“Whenyoureadthemyouwillsharethelongingandpassionagoodmanfeelsforagoodwoman, .”

“Ihavebeenfortunate, , , itmakesyouyoungagain-forever!GrandpaEdwinwasasoldier, ’ssoul, ’’scharacter, readthepersonalnoteJackPershingwrotemewhenheheardthatEdwinwaskilledinaction.”

“Jeffrey, Isaidthispacketofnoteswaspricelessandvaluable.I’.”

“Asforbeingvaluable, ’, , .”

“Iloveyou, GrandmaElsie.”

外祖母埃尔西去世时，我只有17岁。她是我最后一位在世的祖辈，而我是她唯一的外孙。直到律师宣读她的遗嘱时，我才真正体会到她对我的爱有多深。那一刻，我终生难忘——从那天起，我成了城里最富有的男孩子。