An elderly Italian man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies
of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite
Italian anisette sprinkle cookies wafting up the stairs. Gathering his
remaining strength, he lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the
wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater
effort, gripping the railing with both hands he crawled downstairs. With
a deep breath, he leaned against the door
frame, gazing into the kitchen where, if not for death's agony, he would
have thought himself already in heaven. For there, spread out upon waxed
paper on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite
anisette sprinkled cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of
heroic love from his devoted Italian wife of sixty years, seeing to it
that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort,
he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled
posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the cookie was
already in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life. His aged and
withered hand trembled on its way to a cookie at the edge of the table,
when it was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife. Get outta
here!" she shouted, "They're for the funeral!"
