by reginald daniel
Seems like yesterday that Edith and I sat on an inviting bench on a Swiss mountainside and I proposed to her. Being sorta thoughtful and wanting to give Edith some serious time to think it over, I told her she could take 4-5 minutes to think it over if she needed a lengthy time to consider such a vital, life-altering decision. Good thing Edith had her analysis-decision-ometer switched on. Lucky me, she said yes. Over the years we had some good laughs over the ever so considerate 5 minute time limit to decide Deal or No Deal. Good thing we were ahead of Minute To Win It.
Seems like yesterday that we were both overjoyed to see Derek sliding into the world, our arms, and our hearts. Well, I was overjoyed. Edith was relieved and then overjoyed.
Seems like yesterday that we started a 30 year tradition by engaging in a fall leaf walk at Lake McBride. A twenty minute drive took us to a spectacular splash of autumn beauty. It only took that first trip to tell us we wanted to go there every fall, more times if possible. The Lake McBride fall adventure quickly became the most romantic little ritual in our lives.
This Saturday, Sept. 4, I and a few friends will visit a park where we have planted a tree in Edith's memory. Then we will go to the lake, walk along the trail, soak in the beauty, and have a little picnic. We will share each others' love and friendship while remembering a gift that we have "lost" for a short time.
Sept. 4, 2009 seems like yesterday. And it still seems surreal. On the brightest day yet to come, all our yesterdays will seem like, well, yesterday---as we are absorbed into the unutterable eternal ethereal tomorrow.
Thank You, Lord, that I and we had Edith down here for a while.
By the way, the folks who live at Lake McBride can still burn their leaves---and they do, providing a delicious smell. Ironic how the same lovely leaves leave a stupendous splash of color in our eyes and a lingering, redolent fragrance floating interminably through the canyons of our minds.
