Waves of Love
I waited until Short-pants and Buddy-roo were dressed and downstairs, fully involved in their breakfast. Chances were good, once they’d reached that point in the morning, they wouldn’t return to their bedrooms until after school, when I’d be long gone. I tip-toed upstairs and slipped the Valentine stickers under their pillows, each with a little heart-shaped message. I straightened the bedding thinking maybe they wouldn’t see the little gifts until it was actually time to crawl under those covers, prolonging their surprise. I’d also addressed and stamped a couple of pink and red envelopes. They were in my bag, ready to be put in the postbox at the airport, hopefully to arrive in our mailbox at home, on Valentine’s Day.
We all walked out together, De-facto carrying my suitcase down the stairs. It’s rare that the four of us are out the door at the same time in the mornings, typically only one of us (usually De-facto) accompanies the girls to school. This time, they accompanied me to the taxi-stand and issued hugs and kisses and nearly-tearful goodbyes while the driver hoisted my suitcase into his trunk. They stood there, waving, while he waited for the light to change and allow us to plunge into the traffic.
This is the custom in our family – and don’t ask how it started, it’s just what we do – when you see someone off, it’s required to stand steady and continue waving until the car that’s whisking them away is no longer visible. I think it’s a lovely way of saying we don’t want you to go, but we do want you to go. You’ll be missed, but we’re excited for you and your adventures ahead.
The light took a long time to change. The traffic was heavy and slow and unwelcoming to a new vehicle. De-facto and the girls kept standing there, waving at me. I studied them, from a distance, as they were obliged to wait and wave from the other side of a green construction barrier that framed the repair work on the sidewalk between us. There they were, those people, their lives intricately interwoven into mine, everything mixed up together: our DNA, our dirty laundry, the pile of shoes by the door. That tall guy and those two bean-sprouting girls. That’s my family. And I love them.
Hope you’ve all got good people to love. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.
February 14th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I can almost see them, “that tall guy and those two bean-sprouting girls” waving and waving… this is so cute and moving… thanks!
February 14th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
This brought a lump to my throat also. Hope you have a good trip…and Valentine’s Day. I a woke to
two dozen red heart balloons floating in my living room…I’m blessed with a special Valentine. hugs!
February 14th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Thanks Betty. I found an envelope in my suitcase with my Valentine’s present: tango lessons, with De-facto, starting in March! Love to you and yours,
February 14th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
thanks. 🙂
This week-end, just a few days before Valentine’s day, I’ve asked John if he would agree not to marry me forever. And he said yes.
Now, each other wear bracelets as a symbol of our non-wedding engagement, and we’ll have a non-wedding diner with friends in April (for our 5-years anniversary).
It’s good to love and be loved.
I don’t know if you know Geroges Brassens’ song: La non demande en mariage
Ma mie, de grâce, ne mettons
Pas sous la gorge à Cupidon
Sa propre flèche
Tant d’amoureux l’ont essayé
Qui, de leur bonheur, ont payé
Ce sacrilège…
‘ai l’honneur de
Ne pas te de-
mander ta main
Ne gravons pas
Nos noms au bas
D’un parchemin
Laissons le champs libre à l’oiseau
Nous seront tous les deux priso-
nniers sur parole
Au diable les maîtresses queux
Qui attachent les cœurs aux queues
Des casseroles!
Vénus se fait vielle souvent
Elle perd son latin devant
La lèchefrite
A aucun prix, moi je ne veux
Effeuiller dans le pot-au-feu
La marguerite
On leur ôte bien des attraits
En dévoilant trop les secrets
De Mélusine
L’encre des billets doux pâlit
Vite entre les feuillets des li-
vres de cuisine.
Il peut sembler de tout repos
De mettre à l’ombre, au fond d’un pot
De confiture
La jolie pomme défendue
Mais elle est cuite, elle a perdu
Son goût “nature”
De servante n’ai pas besoin
Et du ménage et de ses soins
Je te dispense
Qu’en éternelle fiancée
A la dame de mes pensées
Toujours je pense
February 14th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Merci a toi, quel beau poème. Happy V-day!
February 14th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Happy valentines to you my friend! Thinking of you-hope you are making waves In oceans.
L xx
February 14th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Goddess, God bless your beautiful family!
February 15th, 2012 at 12:25 am
Tango lessons! Ooh la la! Hope you’re well, where ever you are.
March 28th, 2012 at 3:58 am
“There they were, those people, their lives intricately interwoven into mine, everything mixed up together: our DNA, our dirty laundry, the pile of shoes by the door. That tall guy and those two bean-sprouting girls. That’s my family. And I love them.”
I love that close. It’s magnificent. The way things are when the lens is right, and good, and true. This one may inspire one from me. We’ll see.