An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly

smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up

the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from

the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the

bedroom, and with even greater effort inched himself down the stairs,

gripping the railing with both hands.

With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into

the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought

himself already in heaven. There, spread out upon newspapers on

the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate

chip cookies.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted

wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one

great final effort, he moved himself toward the table. His parched lips

parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was almost already in his mouth;

seemingly bringing him back to life.

The aged and withered hand, shakily made its way to a cookie at

the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked with a spatula

by his wife.

"Stay out of those," she said, "they're for the funeral."