I am posting this for Valentine's Day. I read Elizabeth's latest post, and wanted to share the last poem Jim wrote for me as we anticipated our trip to Wrightsville Beach in September, 2010. He had finished a major round of chemo and radiation for the brain cancer; he knew we did not have "the rest of our lives" as we hoped to have. And still he left me this wonderful gift.
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| Having coffee at sunrise on the beach - Sept 11, 2010
At the Beach
The
surf rolls in and then retreats
Depositing
shells where sea and sand meet
We set
our chairs out on this beach
On the
moist sand beyond the surf's reach.
Gulls
fly by in a cloudless sky
Wheeling,
turning, their raucous cry
A day
at the beach, Celia and I
Relaxing,
enjoying, as time drifts by.
Tomorrow
is tomorrow and not here yet.
Yesterday
is past, with its memories set.
But I
have today my time to spend
On
this quiet beach with my best friend.
--James Blalock, August 2010 |
Celia, thank you so much for your kind comments and for sharing your story. I was very moved to hear about your love and loss. I can't imagine how painful that must be. I'm so pleased that my post inspired you to write your own. I'll look forward to seeing more as you get back into blogging and writing. I left this comment on my blog, but wanted to be sure you would see it. Jim looked like a lovely man and I loved his poem especially the best friend part.
ReplyDeleteMy husband once called me his best friend in a way that touched me more than the first time he told me he loved me. That early romantic love is so giddy and sweet, but to hear him say a few years into our relationship, " I wouldn't do that to you, you're my best friend " was ten times more reassuring than " Because I love you." I'm not sure that makes sense to you, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story and I hope you will keep blogging.