October 9, 2009, Midnight
Baby teething all week. Shrieks and crying every other hour it seems. Sleep deprivation. Frustration. Amy is exhausted. I'm helpless to help soothe.
October 11, 1997, Early Afternoon
Alone on Its beach by the lighthouse, writing in journal. Shapely shadow appears. Girl in baseball cap and bikini asks:
Why are you always here alone?
I almost don't answer.
Almost.
October 10, 2009, Morning
End of workout. Stung out. Listening to B notes - songs we picked for Bea's birth. Trace Adkins' sings "You're gonna miss this".
I sit on the bench, crying joyful.
June 1, 2007, Early Evening
Burgers, beers and Scrabble at 99 Bottles. I ask:
So, do you want to have a kid?
You answer:
Okay.
October 11, 2003, Afternoon
Our wedding. Friends and family gather behind us. Amy's father marries us. Vows we wrote are read, crying joyful.
September 22, 2008, Evening
Amy pushes and pushes. 24 hours have passed – at home and the hospital. Finally OB vacuums, pulls and pop – she looks startled, falls back and smiles.
There we go. It was the arm. The baby's arm was up over its head.
I see our little Beatrice for the first time.
May 25, 2007, Early Evening
Sunset at Bryce canyon. Each of us reflecting the other's absence of doubt. A lifetime together of choosing us, without kids.
Our minds have changed.
October 11, 2009, Morning
Bea wakes and we sing her the morning song Amy wrote.
Good morning, good morning, it's time to wake up
The birds are all singing, the sun is coming up
It's a beautiful day for my baby and me
We'll laugh and we'll dance and we'll sing by the sea
Good morning, good morning, a new day is here
Full of bright, sunny smiles and good morning cheer
It's a day full of wonder and lots of good fun
So, let's get up, get going, the day have begun
Sleep deprivation, frustration, exhaustion have fled.
October 11, 2009, Afternoon
We will walk to the place we met. Vows we wrote will be read again, as they are every year on this date.
Crying joyful.
Happy Anniversary Amy!
Thank you for opening the window on the vistas of your life. I got emotional reading them. It touches me when a man can admit to "crying joyfully." I'm glad there were many occassions when you could do this.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you and Amy!
(October must be a great month for weddings. The Mister and I celebrated 24 years Oct. 5.)