Sunday, September 17, 2006






A Technicolor Dreamcoat?

He saw her at a dance. He can not recall what she wore. He can just recall the moment he saw her. He can only recall the feeling in his stomach. The urgency, in his being, his destination.

He turned to his friend and said 'I am going to marry Her!'

The friend had been listening to the music and scoping the room for a girl to dance with.The friend was just about to cross the room when it dawned on him, his friend had just something?

What? Who? Who are you going to marry?

Her, That girl over there...The boy's friend adjusts his glasses ands takes a better look..

Oh, I don't think so! I went to grade school with her... And you are not going to marry her! You are not on her radar, Bub! She has career plans... Marriage is not in her mind...Have? Have you, even met her?

No, But I am going to right now.

And with that comment suspended in the air, the boy left his friend alone at the other end of the room and went to meet his wife.

She does not recall the dance. She does not recall any urgency upon meeting him. She just remembers dancing all night with him. Every dance was with him.

And on the third date He proposed, at a movie theatre over the buttered popcorn and a soda. He gulped down his pride, straightened himself up, stared at the curtain and asked... 'Will you marry me?' No ring. Just a statement/question.

She laughed as the curtain went up at the movie theatre and the song 'More' by Bobby Darrin started to play. He laughed and said, 'They are even playing our song.'

He took her laughter as a 'Yes' for it certainly was not a no....

He was on top of the world and was glad that his destination was sealed.

Little did She know.

The following day, He went to her family's home to ask her father. Her father was a large, hulking, new immigrant with hands the size of baseball mitts. English was not his first language. He was an overpowering figure to this scrawny nineteen year old boy who was all bones through his suit. This man escaped through the mountains, with his wife and eldest daughter when his family was being persecuted in his old country.This man had helped build a railroad, had slept in ditches to bring his family to this country. This father had been a farmer. This man knew sorrow. This man knew great happiness.This man wanted the best for his youngest daughter.

This boy went through the doors of his betroved house, as He knew He would bring her happiness. I know He thought this, as how else could He have had the courage to go through the door?

I do not know what they talked about. But permission was granted to this boy on the cusp of his twentieth birthday. On the cusp of a new life.

When the girl returned home from a day of shopping with her girlfriends, She was flabbergasted that He was serious. That He DID propose in the movie theatre.
And when She really thought about it, when She sat down and looked at him, her heart filled with joy. A joy that She did not know that She was in need of, until then. She realized that She did say 'Yes!' at the movie theatre, ... And that She, She who had not looked for him, now, could not imagine life without him.

They married 42 years ago.They married in sunshine with the father of the bride crying the entire way down the aisle with his youngest daughter in duchess satin.This boy and girl, this husband and wife, married with a trust of the future with the security of a love everlasting in their hearts.

Beginnings are always beautiful to talk about. They are what most people can relate to,as everyone has had a beginning, just as everyone has known an end.

And I am happy to say, there has not been an end.

The middle is the hard part to talk about. The middle is where it is messy. the middle is what gives the fabric of life its substance. The middle is filled with births and deaths, the middle is filled with sunrises and sunsets, the daily coffees at the kitchen table, the cups of tea in the evenings in the reckroom, the laughter and the incredible pain, the lovemaking and the fights,the dances and the walks, the friends and the family, the moments of endless phone calls to each oher, the loveletters that are still left on the kitchen table with their nicknames for eachother enscribed at the end, the days are filled still with each other, the nights are still spent on a double bed, the nights and the days, the hours and the weeks, can all conveniently blend into one, in a narrative.

But when I think of trying to even encapsolate this couple I am at a loss. A loss because it all would seem trite. The fabric of this marriage, this life together has many interesting stitches, Some have given way in the centre where there a huge gaping holes and other spots have had shoddy patches placed overtop. There is duchess satin and Egyptian cotton, there is burlap as there are parts othe heavens, there are a few stars and many tears, and I do not know how but I am certain that laughter is embedded in the fabric, just as trust and compassion, but just as there is this, there is also rage, there is also anger and there is passion that can not be wasted on the faint of heart. This beautiful blanket allows for others to come in and be enveloped in its beauty. This blanket covers the couple at night, as they have their gentle slumbers or turbulant nightmares. This blanket nourished me as a young girl and as a grown woman.

This blanket helped me through a few storms.It has been a beacon of hope for many.

And on September 18th.I hope that you will raise a glass with me and toast the 42 years of my parents. A lovestory with a beginning and a middle... And for the grace of god, or fate, or whatever you want to call it, no end.

42 comments:

chelle said...

Congratulations to your parents on their wedding anniversary!

Beautiful story!

Mel said...

I will totally drink to that, Pendullum! Congratulations to your parents, and what a gorgeous post.

Christina_the_wench said...

Oh Pend. My god that was beautiful. My parents celebrated 40 years last ASugust and I wish I had written soemthing as wonderful as this. You need to copy this down and frame it for them as a gift. Seriously. *sniff*

Cheers, Mom and Dad Pend!

Babaloo said...

Thank you so much for sharing your parents' love story. It was simply beautiful!

Lisa said...

THis was such a beautiful post. It made me all misty. Congrats to your parents!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

How lovely! And sadly, how rare a story this is these days. You were most blessed to grow up in a home with parents who not only loved you, but each other.

Warmest wishes to the wonderful, happy couple, and to you as well.

Lawyer Mama said...

What a beautiful tribute to your parents!

Catherine said...

OH, I hope they get the opportunity to read this! The mere thought of one of my children writing something so moving someday... I can't even fathom the endearment shockwaves that would send through my heart.

Catch said...

this post is beautiful...and told in a way that only you can do...I am always amazed at your posts! Someday I will probably discover that you are a famous writer! And it wouldnt suprise me a bit......and I would gladly raise my glass in honor of your parents on their wedding anniversary. God bless them!

Andrea said...

Aw, what an awesome story! Happy Anniversary to your parents!

Wendy Boucher said...

Happy anniversary to your parents! Mine just had their 50th and I didn't say boo about it on my blog. That was a beautiful post and I know your parents would be proud.

Sandra said...

Happy Anniversary to your parents!

What a stunning post.

Julie Marsh said...

So beautiful! I love the story, and I wish your parents many more years of "middle". It's messy, but it sounds wonderful.

Unknown said...

That is beautiful!

Kim Ayres said...

A day late, but cheers to your parents nonetheless. That was beautifully written.

Unknown said...

Oh I'm so glad that someone else has had that "love at first sight" thing and actually had it work!

This is a beautiful tribute to your parents. I hope they get to read it.

carrie said...

Thank you for sharing a beautiful honest look at your parents marriage, complete with ups and downs (you know, like normal people?) but held together with an everlasting love. Beautiful.


Cheers to your parents!!!

Carrie

sweatpantsmom said...

That was beautiful. I'm sure your parents are beaming.

Congratulations to them on 42 years!

bananas62 said...

What a great story! Your story is written with much love and admiration. On the eve of my 20th wedding anniversary I toast to them, too! Congratulations to your parents! You are very fortunate to have them both!!!

Dana a/k/a Sunshine said...

I agree - you need to write this or type it up and frame it - so beautiful. I shed a tear!!! (a few of them) You are a wonderful storyteller, but more importantly, theirs is a wonderful story. How lucky you are!!

Grim Reality Girl said...

I raised my glass late -- but I raised it! Congratulations on parents who gave a great example of what love should be. Beautiful!

JLee said...

What a wonderful story! Happy Anniversary to your parents. Those are rare these days. I love your writing style, it carries me away :)

Mackenzie said...

Oh, that was beautiful. Your writing always gives me goosebumps.

Nikki said...

*raises glass*

To your parents.

May they always be warm under the blanket of years and love.

ditzymoi said...

That was so real ... It is all about the middle :)
I hope your parents anniversary was a special one

Mama en Fuego said...

Congratulations! That is such an amazing story, what a great story to be able to pass down through the family.

Minerva Jane said...

What an absolutely beautiful tribute.

Lynilu said...

I'm new at your blog, and the timing is perfect. Such a tender story. It reminds me of my own parents who passed away just three weeks apart after 69 years of marriage. Beautiful memories.

Congratualtions to your parents for their long, solid marriage, and for a daughter who remembers them with such wonderful words.

Kristin said...

I just love how you write... everything you say is just so beautifully and perfectly put.

I missed the anniversary, but I will drink to them tonight!

Maritza said...

Your stories always make me cry!! **sniff** happy tears

Girlplustwo said...

that was really quite lovely. cheers.

chichimama said...

What an amzaing story. And congrats to your parents on their anniversary! What an accomplishment.

pinknest said...

wonderful story! congratulations to 42 years.

super des said...

A beautiful story, as always!

Congrats to the 'rents, and may they have many happy more.

Rhonda said...

That was just . . . stunning.

Congrats to your parents.

IzzyMom said...

42 years...That's a hell of long time! Good for them!

Happy 42nd Anniversary to your folks :)

Attila the Mom said...

I can't tell you how much this beautiful post moved me.

I simply love the way you write.

Kevin Charnas said...

Excellent. For them, for you, for all of us...really. Congratulations to them! And to your whole family, for remaining whole through everything...and for being better for it.

Wonderful post.

crazymumma said...

Beautiful...may they share many more years of love. And there is ALWAYS a messy middle. There has to be. Such is life.

Pollyanna said...

Congrats to your parents on their anniversary! AWESOME. So awesome. My parents have been married for 37-years and it just amazes me. They have been through a LOT, as it sounds like your parents have, and the fact that they are still together, my parents, amazes me!

As always the writing is beautiful.

Ruth Dynamite said...

OK I'm teary. That was riveting and poignant. Thank you and congratulations to your parents (and to you)!

Teri M. said...

Well told.

Congratulations to your parents!