Yesterday was the 13th of July: it was just two years after My Beloved Beryl died, as I whispered in her ear.
I think of her everyday – sometimes several times a day. Always at night, I look out over the balcony and whisper a “I love you so much Darling; always have; always will.” And I blow her three kisses.
But come now, you know me well enough to know that I am not going to leave you so melodramatically or melancholically as that.
I had made up a prayer to read at church on Sunday, as it was my turn to write and present prayers. It was short, but to the point that we had known we were to be together since we were 13 years, which meant 77 years of happiness – 68 married, 5 kids, 12 grandkids and, as of Tuesday, tomorrow, 15th of July, two great grandkids.
Yes, Tanner and Kelly, she will be induced, are going to have twins – one of each.
After church, I drove over to My Beloved’s shrine. Well, I call it a shrine. Forty-five years ago when we had just bought our house on in Boutiliers Point, St. Margaret’s Bay, we bought two 1-metre high Hemlocks and planted them at the beginning of our driveway. Today, they are magnificent trees, 10 metres high. After her celebration of life a couple of years ago, we had a chartered boat take us out to St. Margaret’s Bay and we scattered one third of her ashes in the water. I had asked permission from the owner of the house – Marika Shaw, who very graciously gave us permission – to put one third of the ashes at the base of each tree. Marika also said we were welcome to come and visit the ‘shrine’ any time any when. So, I did yesterday.
That wasn’t the end of yesterday.
Every Tuesday, some, up to a dozen, gather at 4.30pm at the Tapestry Beer and Wine bar in Lower Sackville. Ian, the owner, is the son of my dear friends who live in the apartment immediately above mine, Eric and Kathy Smith. As soon as I sit down, a glass of dark beer, a Porter or the like, appears in front of me. One of the friends had invited us all to their house, which may as well be called a spa, since they have made it so beautiful, with a large pool, for a BBQ.So, we had a great time for the next five hours. Some in the pool, others chose not to. But we all had great food, hamburgers, salads, super desserts.
I know My Beloved would have approved of yesterday, it’s memories and would have joined such a church and BBQ. Probably wouldn’t have visited her own shrine if a BBQ was in the offing.
I was going to add a story about a memory My Beloved shared in a 1952 letter to me. If you scroll down through the different stories below, you will find one about “you never know what could be in a locked box”, or some such title, which will explain howcome I have her letters from those times when I was in Canada flight training and she was at University. You would enjoy this story, but I’ll just leave you with a teaser. We had a weekend together after a Ball. The following had been sent to My Beloved:
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From time to time... 