I pride myself as a hubby that never misses the socially mandated, commercially driven days to celebrate your significant other.
Often, she is envied by officemates when flowers arrive at the office for one of these “special” days. I even throw in a “just because” celebration every now and again. What a great husband am I!! ....................... really???? So, let's see, Birthday, Valentines, Christmas, Wedding Anniversary…… So that’s 4 days a year I go out of my way to celebrate the most important person in my life. Oh ya and a few just because efforts!! Hhhhmmmmm???? Hitting all the societal milestones says I’m a great husband, wonderful caring partner! I have made it the pinnacle of husbandry! What more could she ask for? I know right !! I am sure there are significant others out there that would be happy to reach that milestone. To have what she has!!
She leans into the mirror as she brushes her teeth. Her hand raises to gently follow and investigate a new wrinkle, a wrinkle that apparently wasn’t there yesterday as she seems to just notice it. She longs for the days gone by when the mirror held no surprises.
As we walk through the store she stops to look at clothes, she checks the tag for the size. As she looks it over she eventually puts it back with a somewhat sad look on her face. Time has changed the number on the tags she now wears. She works diligently to stay looking young. Much harder than she really needs to. At her stage in life, she has a youthful look most her age are envious of. Yet inside she feels the tug to hold on to what youth graced her with and time is trying to steal.
Oh, and let's not talk about gravity. Peaches have become pears, perky becomes…well …...saggy and time and gravity become foes worth fighting daily. A battle she knows she can’t win.
For over 35 years she has held tightly to the love that binds us. The more I pushed and strained that grip, the tighter she held. There is no doubt over the 35 years there were times she should have walked away. No one would have blamed her for giving up. At times she must have felt like she was the only one that cared, the only one trying to keep our world together. A level of lonely I can only imagine. It's sad looking back what foolish things we can do to the ones we love the most.
By far she has been the anchor, the glue that held our family together. Selflessly raising 2 boys at a cost only she knows. Too many times a battle fought alone as work kept me away. She gave up everything to make sure her family had what they needed. We always came first and still do. Never did I see the tears, yet I know they must have flowed. I imagine at the end of many a long day fighting with teenage boys while working full time and desperately trying to keep the house together. I am sure they ran and stained her beautiful cheeks as no one was there to wipe them away. But hold on she did. Never letting go. Never giving up!
4 days and a few thrown in for good measure, seems not only ridiculous but embarrassing, wouldn’t you say?
I should be celebrating her every day! She should hear how beautiful she is every day! How gravity and wrinkles are not a sign of defeat at the hands of time, but a sign of victory for a battle well fought and a reward truly earned. Her beauty only grows as time opens each new chapter in our life together. But I have to tell her!
The number on the tag doesn’t matter! The mirror reflects the beauty of the age gained gracefully, not the loss of the youth! She still takes my breath away every day as I see her walking my way. Why did I stop telling her?
I don’t have enough days left to celebrate all she has given me! To cover the debt of all she has sacrificed over the years I will never live to see. Even if I live to be 100, nothing I could do would repay the sacrifices made and the tears lost.
But I will try to even the score just a little. I will replace as many tears from the past with smiles of the future and lonely nights with joyful memories. I will make sure she knows she is perfect just as she is and beautiful beyond words and I will make sure she never forgets! No I can never even the score but I will spend what days I have left trying.
Who should you be celebrating daily? Who do you take for granted? Why not start today, celebrating those who deserve more than 4 days a year.
