Post 464: The rain came, but not for long.
Firstly, can I say how amazing it was to hear all your replies yesterday. I don’t read them until very late at night and, after another surprisingly emotional day, they gave me such a boost.
Whether you’re on holiday, having a roast, or simply looking out of the window at another sunny day, it means a lot to me that you took the time to tell me. Thank you.
I had the salmon on my mind all day.
Yes, the steroids are still making my tummy think it’s empty and the tuna I bought as an extra last Friday pushed the salmon back a day, so today’s the day.
I got up and decided my bedroom needed a laundry day. Nothing else for it – the bed sheets had to be washed.
I stripped the bed and slipped downstairs and, before I could get anything into the washing machine, I had to feed the hairy, meowing monster. Once fed, he’d be an angel.
Why is there always a few small socks or a pair of fancy pants left in the washing machine or dryer?
I had to fetch one of the three grabbers we have in the house to fish them out. Why are they still there?
Just to annoy me, I suppose. Me being me, I’m a little precious about these things, and the kitchen appliances always leave me wondering why, why, why?
Anyway, enough of my foibles about how to do things properly in the kitchen – a place I normally only enter to make a mess. Ha ha.
The clouds burst and the air cooled for a while, but my Darling was still in bed.
My shoulder and groin still hurt a little, but my Darling is getting stronger and wisely taking her recovery one careful step at a time. It’s a shame we couldn’t have done more over these last five weeks since the tragedy on the dance floor, but we have arranged the pub eye-ball to eye-ball with Ryder and company.
I can’t wait.
A beer and a natter – who doesn’t like that sort of caper?
I’d finished the washing before my Darling came downstairs for a fruity, cold breakfast after the midday bongs. She’s looking so petite after all the weight she’s lost.
Oh my word…
It’s like going back in time.
When I met her and fell in love with her at Christmas 1986 (forty years ago this December, incredibly), she was a slip of a thing with big hair balancing on top of her tiny frame. She lived almost entirely on two Maccy D’s Quarter Pounders at a time and very little else, but after a few weeks of my Dad’s home cooking she became much more used to proper meals.
Over the years, children, busy lives and all the little indulgences caught up with us, as they do.
But over the last year, through determination and patience, she and her friends have steadily lost the weight they wanted to. The wedding probably gave everyone an extra incentive, but the commitment has come entirely from within.
She’s now a whip of a thing again and I’m genuinely amazed.
I’ve loved her dearly through every stage of life. However she looks on the outside, she has a core of gold, and I’m a very lucky man.
She’s become an inspiration to the others on the same journey and is always happy to help with the tidy-up after the meetings and encourage anyone who needs a kind word.
She’s a gem.
The washing hanging over chairs and door frames caught her off guard, and before long she’d joined in with a Sunday afternoon laundry catch-up while I cleaned the earth connection and bulb on the other side of my little Mini. She caught up with Love Island while I tinkered in the garage.
Although it was a simple day, it reminded me how lovely togetherness and tranquillity can be.
Nearly forty years together is quite something, but there’s never been a moment when I wanted life to be any different.
From the first few minutes I met her, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
That’s still the way I’d like it to stay.
I was in the garage in the sunshine a couple of days ago when one of those tiny white, fairy-like seed heads floated in through the open door.
After a few clumsy swipes, I finally caught it.
Whenever I do, I always say exactly the same thing.
“Please let me stay with my Darling forever.”
I’ve been saying those words for nearly forty years.
Yes, really.
Perhaps it’s a little prayer.
Perhaps it’s simply a reminder of how much I love her.
Whatever it is, it’s become part of me.
Then I put the seed head in the bin so no one else can steal its magic, smiled to myself, and carried on with whatever I was doing.
There are many things in life that are helped by positive reinforcement.
Even if that reinforcement comes from an old tradition, a little hope, or a touch of irrational magic.
Have a delightful day after a peaceful night.
Take care.
