As I daydream in my American Culture class, I thought about the letter my mom wrote to my father on their 30TH wedding anniversary. She called it their Spiritual License.
It Read:
To Someone who stole me from myself:
"It doesn't matter where you go in life.
It's who you have beside you.
Whatever I do, it's gotta be with you.
It's better than it's ever been,
because we can talk it through."
"As I'm ceremoniously pouring Brandy into a glass, I sit
on the edge of the bed starring at this beauteous calligraphy frame of
the inspiration of my life, sitting next to the telephone. It's a wonderful
sight! I feel total euphoria whenever I see it. Your smiling at me. Flaunting
those pearly white teeth.
After doing a self-inventory on my life,
I never imagined my focus for someone could last for so long. During my
mid-life years, I ran away from everything and everybody. Most of all I
ran from myself; However, you wouldn't let me run from you. I remember
when I would get nervous and twist my wedding ring around. You would out-of-the-blue
start singing "I Love You Just The Way You are" and I would joyously speak
from my heart, but I would leave my head behind by falling over something
because I would lose concentration. We both latent our laughter.
It often plagued me, why were you
so calm, cool, and collective through the
trying years and I would get ecstatic when I couldn't
get the pancakes to flip without them falling apart. It took me years,
but I figured it out! I spoke up and sometimes
I would strike out to make changes happen; On the contrary,
God works from
the inside out. He works through you! You always saw
the big picture. You help me eliminate the fear, the anger, the imbalance
in my life. With your contributions I mastered insecurities, discontentment,
and resentment.
You've moved forward to create peacefully
and powerfully the changes
needed in heaven. I will always open my arms to your
spirit and even though
your physical presence in no longer here, as I toast
this drink to our thirty years of spiritual friendship, our relationship
still has a genuine peace.
Henry, after all these trial years,
finally my needs have been met, my desire fulfilled, my work is done. The
prayer you sent up has been answered and it is time to move on. Someone
who holds tight to a ledge, at last must let go.
I shall carry on what you have taught me as I embark
on my new life with
my new husband."
Love, Harriet.
As the professor gently tapped me on my shoulder, explaining
that the bell had rang,
tears leaked from my enclosed eyelids.