Happy Valentine's Day to Us!
TOGETHER ALONE
Happy Valentine’s Day, Bob!
It’s been a year of sheltering-in-place
in our home, day after day
We thought the Covid-19 pandemic
would have ended by now
but it continues to groan on
For the two of us, every day
is much the same as the day before
It’s quiet. Very quiet
I look at you; you look at me
There’s not a lot to talk about
except what you read in the paper
and I hear on the News
or someone happens to tell us
over the phone
This has been a year of appreciating
things taken for granted
like the sweet daily companionship
of the one who loves me
and is loved in return
The daily routine of your company
at our breakfast table
I recognize as a blessing
as it is at lunch and dinner
and over a mug of cocoa in the evening
I cherish your presence beside me
as we attend our church services
virtually over the computer screen
or seated on the sofa
to watch an old movie
or at the Scrabble board
or that we take turns
exercising on the treadmill
instead of walking outdoors in winter
One day the two of us
spent some time organizing
things in the basement
another time we whipped up
a double-batch of nut breads
just to liven things up a bit
Today we baked a cherry cheese pie
in the shape of a heart
as our Valentine gift to each other
The warmth of you holding my hand
as we pray before dinner is comforting
Your embrace and tender kisses
seem sweeter now than ever
We’re well aware of people
who are utterly alone
those who live by themselves
those who don’t go out and aren’t visited
as this frightening virus rages
We try to put ourselves in their places
imagining no embraces
no kisses, no company at all
Before this pandemic
our grandchildren smothered us
with bunches of kisses
Now on the rare occasion
when we see them
they rightly stand a safe six feet away
and gesture a hug and a smooch
behind masks that hide
the faces we adore
We miss family, friends
and casual get-togethers
but with everything cancelled
or postponed, we know we must wait
until we’re all vaccinated
and this siege is over
Till then, it’s just you and me, my darling
I am grateful to God for the blessing
it has been to have you in my life
since the day we said I
do…but
especially now, my darling
especially now
Maude Carolan Pych
Thank you, Maude. You've encouraged me to look at the half full glass I hold!
ReplyDeleteYes, Barbara! As I wrote I kept finding blessings in having someone special to shelter-in-place with. It hasn't been easy, but many must do it completely alone. That's really tough! Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDelete