Thirteen years ago I lost my soul mate, best friend, the love of my life. We were together for ten years. Seems like for ten minutes. In that ten years, he loved me like no other, loved and helped raise my three girls, and showed me how to live each day like it was my last. I could look deep into his eyes and see his love for me. I could leap into his arms and feel his love for me. And I could hear his love whenever he said "I love you more"!
He took away all the fear and uncertainty of living. He allowed me to discover who I really was. He encouraged me to go back to the Catholic Church. He even came to Mass with me.
Because of him, I could be the best mother to my girls. And he could be a funny stepfather. He made up silly little games (the WORD of the DAY) and craft projects (Christmas bird house ornaments). That first Christmas he ordered a swing set. Then put it together.
He took us on weekend boat excursions (our youngest learned to swim off the boat swim platform) and to Marineland. We would all jump into our big canopy bed at night and watch movies. We had a house full of cats.
He would drive us to MomMom and PopPop's house. Or to the mountains. Or just to get pizza or ice cream. I could count on him to pick up the girls from school. He was great with take-out. He knew his way around Publix.
He built us the best fires in the fireplace. Sometimes we slept on blankets in front of the fire. He fixed the best barbecue chicken on the grill.
He let me decorate and redecorate the house. I loved doing the girls' rooms. New furniture, drapery, wallpaper, carpet. We always had a beautiful and cozy home.
He loved to travel and showed me his favorite places. My favorite times were aboard large sailing vessels. He was at home on the sea. I never feared for our safety. He was the captain of our ship. He loved to teach me about the different types of boats. How to tell a ketch from a sloop. And all the parts of the ship. I wish I could remember it all today!
Because of him, I got to see the lovely turquoise water of the Caribbean, Nassau's straw market, Hope Town's striped lighthouse. And hundreds of other tropical landmarks.
He had a great love of books and art. He painted with oils. I still have most of his paintings. And books. We all had a hand in a repainting of Van Gogh's Field of Iris. The painting hangs in my home office now.
Today I am remarried and living in a different part of the state. My three daughters are grown and married and have their own children. By the end of this year I will have seventeen grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren. My parents live nearby and so do two sisters and their families. I have four stepsons. Allan is retired but I continue to work as a decorator in a cute furniture shop at the beach. We have a full life.
Life (and love) goes on.
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