This is the Man

Some weeks ago, my dear friend, also known as "the Carpenter" and "the Hand" was visiting. A headache and a sore neck were plaguing him so he was lying on my sofa one leg over the side with his foot firmly on the floor and his arm akimbo as his hand rested on his forehead palm up.

While he dozed, I puttered about in the kitchen putting away dishes and tidying up. I think I was humming some tune as I listened to my playlist, which had about six songs at the time. (The list is on the sidebar if you wish to hear it. ETA: Nope, Imeem is not cooperating today. Yup, I added a few to "the other one"... you'll have to press play if you'd like to listen.)

In one of my circles about the room, I found myself behind the sofa gazing down at this tired, hurting man. As I stood there, my heart opened and filled with such love for him. An incredible thought came to me — why not this man?

This thought was quickly followed by another — this is the man who. This is the man who...has listened to all my woes, laughed and cried with me, has brought me thoughtful gifts — food, candy, books, and a special bell. This is the man who shoveled my roof, kept the driveway clear of snow, built a large portion of this home. This is the man who prays with me and for me, the man who sings to me and shares the stories of his life. This is the man...

How I shared all this with him, I really don't recall. Things became a bit hazy when I began floating a bit like in a dream where one discovers she can fly. Somewhere along the way, after a declaration of love whispered breathily into my ear, I asked, "how much?" (Gosh, I can be such a teenager by times!)

Here are a few of those responses...

A lot

Very, very much

With all my heart

With everything that's in me

More than peanut butter

More than marshmallow fluff

More than s'mores

More than p'nut butter and jelly sandwiches

More than a smooth road in spring with no pot holes or frost heaves

More than the scent of apple blossoms

More than a hayride through the apple orchard in autumn

I love you more than our playlist

I love you more than I have words to say...

Ahhhh, much better!

Some of you saw all these things before I did. I marvel at that now. Yes, Judy, he is the man at the tea party; he is the man who pulls the winners' names from bowls and jars; he is the man whose mind is all stretched out from trying to figure out how to please my quirky wishes for the addition; and the man who sat with me one sad evening last fall looking at all his work circling the drain and which post I can't find just now. (October 17 and the first paragraph is wonderful if I do say so myself. ;>)

We have actually known each other for over 25 years and even attended the same church at one time. We were casual acquaintances who, over many years, became friends; we'll be friends forever.

Some who have read this blog from the beginning and know the story between my sister and me will wonder how that relationship is going. Well...let's just say that since I married after a six-week engagement, my sis is off the hook for marrying after a six-month one. She told me once that time is foreshortened at our ages. I didn't believe her then, but I do now.

Thank you for reading our story. I promise that I shall not write about our schmoopiness any more!