my favourite things/ true love

today
at the entrance
to the Senior's home
a regal 'old' lady
asked which way I was going

brought out of my reverie
quite unexpectedly
I answered
to see Granny Ruth...
this way...
as I pointed down the long corridor
to the right

Will you walk with me
she asked

we were half way down the corridor
when she was greeted in a friendly manner

looking for Gordon?

it is down that corridor
Vonda dear

we retraced our steps
then down the left corridor
through the greeting room
another hallway
then to the right
across to the other side
all along the way people greeting Vonda
with such heartfelt joy
telling me 'she' knew the way to Gordon's room

(she didn't)
she leaned in on me
without asking
believing I would lead her there

more dear ones greeting
asking me if I was taking them to lunch
(sadly, I wasn't)

At the door to his room
we saw him sitting
wheelchair turned away from us
eyes at the open window
his attention on the bird flight
and the bird song

Gordon, I spoke gently

He won't hear you
someone said

Vonda and her cane
manouvered with me to the chair

I touched his shoulder gently
to not startle him
He looked disoriented
I released the chair brakes and turned him to face His wife
of sixty one years

My dear One
he exclaimed
their eyes joining
glistening with a love
matched nowhere
arms wrapped around each other
soft cooing and
whisperings

I know he heard each word

Now others motioned to a special lunch table
set just for them
a special meal
a celebration day
She had told me she was late
she had always been early

She was worried
and had become forgetful
lost

that was when she found me

I sat them across from each other
they said they liked it that way

He reached his hands out and she placed hers in his
and their eyes sparkled
and it was only them in the room

as I quietly slid out after leaving a blessing
I could catch their soft love song to each other
an untamed passion
a trusting gaze
a heartfelt touch
the 'til death we do part
through sickness and health
for better or worse

I cried all the way back to Granny's
down the corridor to the right
through the dining room
I saw her wheelchair
her small frame
hair freshly styled
head on her bosom
eyes closed

a special table setting
for Granny too
Easter celebration

I touched her gently
she woke and smiled

was happy to see me

I told her my Bethany was engaged to be married
to a wonderful Mexican prince

At this she really woke up
her eyes sparkled
remembering the days
and I saw her in another time
wrapped in love's embrace

and I needn't grieve for her empty arms

her eyes told me that her heart was still full

would always be

All the way to my car
I wiped at the flood of tears
that wouldn't stop

Young love is a joyous treasure
holds hope
and a future
builds dreams
and lives them

and if love reaches old age
that same delightful love
tested over time
is unbelievably
heart wrenching
because
it never gives up
it is a heated flame
that won't be put out

and there is nothing so lovely

marriage
Christ and His bride
the love that binds them
a great mystery

I saw it uncovered today
and it was holy ground

true love
my favourite things