"Those are the most beautiful words that I think I have ever heard." Then she dug into her purse and took something out and passed it over to me.
"Found that in your pocket. Want to keep it?"
I looked at it and shook my head. "What in the world would I do with a stainless steel rat?"
"Then I'll have it," she said, and put it away. "I'll lock it in a box and keep it handy. Then, whenever I am feeling depressed, or out of sorts, or worried or just anything except just plain happy, I will take it out and look at it. To remind myself of all the fun that we have had." She smiled around at her family, leaned over and gave Gloriana a little scratch between the ears.
"And to also remind myself that we are all so very lucky that we came out of all of our various adventures and escapades without permanent damage."
We drank to that as well.
At peace.