Talk of Poems, Prayers, and Promises....

“Life is only real, when shared”

-Christopher McCandless

The past few days Colleen and I have been remodeling my office in the house. New, heavy bookshelves were hauled upstairs by two strong men. As they struggled in the new summer heat, their masks would billow outward from breath exhalations. Their job was challenging enough but to perform in these days of the pandemic made it all the more so.

As we have moved things about to get ready for the new furniture, we discovered, like most families, we have a lot of junk. It is the stuff of life that binds to your hull as you sail on. The volume of it is amazing. You wonder why you kept such dross all these years. At the time I am sure we felt, “we might need that”, only to let a decade go by without even touching it.

Yet, as you handle the now dusty items, memories begin to flood back into your thoughts. As worthless as the the stuff appears, they glow as touchstones to your history. We sat among the junk with smiles on our faces and remembered.

We have shared a good life.

Today marks our 36th wedding anniversary. We have known each other for 39 years. I am not certain after all these years the exact moment I knew she was the one. If Colleen is honest, I am sure she doesn’t know either. However, after three years of dating, we both knew. On a Christmas Eve 37 years ago, I asked for her hand in marriage.

She said yes.

To say I am lucky is an understatement. I have talked to many men over the years. I would listen as they would complain about their wives and how they yearned “to be free”. I watched as they would destroy their families in the name of personal happiness.

I never had anything to complain about. Colleen was everything I ever hoped for as a partner in life. She filled my every need with grace, humor, patience, and beauty. It was Colleen, not me, that would get the question, “What are you doing with that guy?”

I had a friend in college that was a bit of a playboy. He fancied himself as highly desired by women. Perhaps he was, I don’t know. He never had a girlfriend for more than a few weeks at a time.

I remember, when I was dating Colleen in the early days, asking his opinion of her.

He said, in a not so subtle attempt at a put down, “She is a good one for you.”

I am not sure where he is these days. It has been decades since we have seen each other. But, despite his sophmoric attempt at wit, he was right.

Colleen has been good for me.

Whatever is good, noble and praiseworthy in me, came from her. All those years ago I was on a trajectory for a miserable, self-absorbed life. She changed that course. She lifted me to a world where love and the beauty of the world can be seen and felt. Who could ask for more?

She is funny, brilliant, adventurous, talented, heroic, and blessed with uncommon beauty. After all these years, she still laughs at my jokes. In this pandemic world I am lucky to shelter in place with such a soul.

Were the colors of the world faded and tinted back then? The old photos seem to suggest that fact. But, it is not true. When we met, color exploded in our lives, and after all these years, the rays have still not faded.

From our Honeymoon 36 years ago

Happy Anniversary!