Love Forever and Beyond

I was walking along a beautiful tree lined street with my best friend Sue when I heard someone call my name. “Who was that?l I asked her. That guy he is not only gorgeous he is a jock as well.” ”How do you know that?” “It seems everyone but you know Matt. Besides being good looking he is very friendly and smart.” “How do you think he knows who I am.” “Perhaps it is because you are friendly too.” Once again I herd “Hi Sheila” as he walked across the street where I was standing. Sue turned to me and said “time for me to leave. Remember he just said hello.

”I know we don’t know each other well but I would like to get to know you better. “How about we grab a cup of coffee at Coffee And...then sit and talk. “I don’t drink coffee “ I said clearly. “You know it’s cold outside and a hot drink is what we need. Let us get a menu and see what they offer.” We walked toward the back of the coffee shop and found an empty table. We looked closely at the menu and decided on our drink selection.

The waitress stopped at our table and took our order for a latte for Matt and peppermint tea for me. “Thank you “ Matt said to the waitress giving her a big smile.

I started to think that I would take a few sips then leave. All we knew about each other that his name was Matt and mine was Sheila. He told me a friend of his told him about me during the summer but for some reason he didn’t have the nerve to speak to me. He also said that a few times he saw me speaking to other boys and he was sure I must have a boyfriend.

The drinks arrived and one sip became two and to sips became three

and before we knew it we asked for refills. While waiting for the refills we started a long conversation.

We learned that our birthdays are in August nine days apart. We also learned we are at the same high school, enjoyed the same music and the same movies and we laughed a lot as we shared stories.

We also talked about our families and the fact that our parents had bungalows on the same block in Rockaway Beach. I had seen him sitting on his porch with friends but since he and his friends were two years older than I was I never paid attention to Matt and his friends.

Sitting in the coffee shop I was starting to like him and hoped he would ask me out again.

I did not see him again for several weeks when suddenly he popped onto my porch. I was surprised to see him and happy as well. “Here is something I brought fo you. Please open it.” I opened the package and there was a selection of different kinds of tea as well as a gift card from Coffee And...”OMG that is so sweet of you. Let us go inside and I will brew some tea.

Once inside my kid sister whispered in her loud childish whisper “0h

he so handsome. Matt introduced himself to my sister who was so exited I had a boyfriend.

We had theatre dates, movie dates, restaurant dates and just long walks on Rockaway’s boardwalk. We found so many things we did together.

We both were very much in love and we became engaged. A year later in 1957 when Matt was 22 and I was 20 we married.

Four years later our first child was born and seven years later we welcomed our son. Both children were born with some difficulty they bad to overcome. My daughter was born with Turners Disease and my son was born blind in one eye. We never considered them disabled in any way. Our daughter graduated from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and our son graduated with honors from the Universiy of Michigan,

Our family life was very happy although we did have some ups and downs. We recognized that when times were difficult and we were together we could solve anything.

Fast forward to 2000 we were ready to retire and we found our happy in Florida. Many people thought we were newly weds because we were always holding hands.

Life was wonderful until it wasn’t. After 54 years of marriage Matt became very ill. After radiation, surgery and dementia he became very confused. As confused as he was he always kissed me good night and told me I was the love of his life.

He physically left me after 62 years of marriage. He was the one I adored, the one who always held my back, the one who loved me as much as I loved him.

It was devastating that I was now a one not a couple. I couldn’t hold his hand or give him a hug. There were no night kisses.

Matt however left me with a plan that I didn’t know about. It was not money that he left to me. It was his strength showing me each day that I can do anything I want to do. I used to ask him what happens in the future .He always replied “You will be fine. You will be happy living each day. I will always be with you although not physically but spiritually. My reply “Matt you have left me on a new but good path. I know you were my love as I was yours.

I am 83 years old now and find life lonely but good. I have many girlfriends who are also widows and understand the loneliness but we appreciate every day that we find some beauty and something joyful to enjoy.

I think of how young we were and how good we went together. Our children miss their Dad as much as I do. We all celebrate the day he was born and we all visit him at his resting place.

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