ESL Blogs

Today, I would like to share with you a story of one of my friends. It’s a bit long that I have to tell you in advance.

Unlike my other young friends, Edward is the oldest friend that I have ever had. Many moons ago I stumbled across him on a website of practicing language. At the first time we chatted online, he told me that he was born in 1924 and also served as a soldier in U.S. Army in Europe for three years during World War II; I was simply astonished by it because WW II which is only read or heard from history or TV for me. He said he would like to talk with people who are sincerely learning English. In other words, he doesn’t like people whom he talks with are not hardworking for learning English. So, we exchanged our mails for keeping in touch with each other. Since then, we get the mails started back and forth more often. Because he knew I’m eager to improve my English, so he encouraged me to write and showed me the ropes of grammar sometimes.

By reading his mail each time, I found and realized that his unique personality is very impressive. For instance, he has been married for over sixty years. I once asked him of what’s the secret of his marriage for keeping quite a long time. He said he and his wife grew up in an entirely different world than the world is today. They were taught that marriage is forever, and that once you married, you stayed married. Also, they lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s and beyond, and they had very few possessions and expected none. Nowadays people want immediate gratification, and if it is not forthcoming, there is dissent and conflict. They have always shared everything, and he always takes his wife into account when making decision.

They have had their share of disappointments and sorrows too. They take care of each other all the time even though they don’t have any children. I also asked him about the secret of the longevity. They keep in good mood, take nutritional food and enjoy their life. Though they retired for many years, they used to be a homestay family, dedicating their time to churches for helping refugees, and they even also helped take care of some their relatives with serious illness from time to time. Now they don’t take part in any activities outside because of their healthy condition. But, they are still good at spending their time at home. They do housework cooperatively, talking with friends online, reading books or playing games together.

His diligence to his work, kindness to his friends and relatives and loyalty and love to his wife all touched me very deeply. I really appreciate that I have a friend like him. He resembles a mentor, a teacher or even a grandfather to guide me to the right way of my life with his precious experience.

Finally, thanks a lot for reading the long story. Hope it might also bring you some inspiration, and also hope you could help to correct my writing if I may have made some grammar mistakes. Thank you.

remark: one-of-a-kind