It Doesn’t Get Any Better than This

I’m curled up in my chair in our bedroom, doing something that used to drive me nuts – listening to Tim snore. For years, as I struggled to fall asleep, his constant throat vibration kept me awake. I tried everything, I pushed him over, I put his arms over his head, I held his nose. Nothing I did worked.

But, since Tim was diagnosed with lung cancer, his snoring is a welcome relief. A sign to me that he’s in a deep sleep. That the pain of the tumor tearing into his hip bone has subsided and he’s resting. I never thought I’d like that growling late night intrusion. But now no matter what time of day or night, it brings me peace.

I find it odd how time has changed our relationship. How the things Tim did that bothered me years ago, seem so insignificant today. Over the years, when problems with our marriage sent me to the edge, I thought a divorce would heal all our problems, make my life easier, if nothing else, end the snoring.

But after thirty-six years, I’m watching Tim fade away. The damage to his hip has left him practically motionless. The calluses on his hands from years of woodworking have disappeared. His body is bald from months of chemotherapy. His soul is quiet as he mentally struggles to control his pain. The playful twinkle in his eye has dimmed along with those playful gleams from across the room.

Life is more fragile than I ever imagined. Among the millions of things that can halt a person, cancer has stopped Tim in his tracks. As I sit here, listening to that familiar sound, there’s no place I’d rather be. Yet, I’m surprised at how thankful I am. Thankful that we didn’t call it quits, that we still love each other, that we beat all the odds.

None of us get married thinking of our latter years. But if we live a long life, this is pretty much of what we get. Our bodies give out, they succumb to disease, and we end up caring for each other.

Marriage wasn’t designed just for romance. It wasn’t designed for me to get my needs met. When I chose to build my life with Tim, I never imagined the depth of love I’d experience. I never imagined it would take cancer for me to feel it. I never imagined that it would top all the romance we’d experienced over the past forty years.

I believe the best parts of life are as difficult to achieve for everyone. Being wealthy, well bred, or living in a prosperous nation doesn’t make building a meaningful life with another person any easier. But the good news is, the rewards of sticking it out are available to all who dare to persevere.

I’ve heard it said that forty is the new thirty, and fifty the new forty. We can look at aging any way we want, but we can’t slow it down. We’re all given a measure of time to fill up as we choose and unfortunately, too often, I’ve chosen poorly.

Unlike many in my generation, I welcome old age and peacefully say good-bye to my irresponsible youth. I count my wrinkles as trophies to a long life, and my widening girth as the blessings of having lived in a land filled with milk and honey. But most of all, I’m proud of my marriage. Proud that when given the choice, Tim and I stepped back into the ring and fought once again for our family. Because, as our lives are winding down, there’s no one better to be with than the spouse of your youth, the father of your children and the Papa of your grandchildren. Trust me, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Merlin

Several years ago while visiting a favorite aunt in San Francisco, I noticed a two-inch pewter figurine of Merlin looking out of place among the angels and intricately carved wooden boxes on the shelf in her guest room. Turning it over I wondered how this odd little thing had come into my aunt’s possession.

Merlin’s pointed wizard’s hat came down over his forehead with just enough room to reveal a thick set of bushy white eyebrows. A full mustache covered his lips, and a flowing beard covered his chest all the way to the waist of his royal blue robe. In his left hand he held a crystal ball while the fingers of his right grasped a tall crooked walking stick

While I stared at the intriguing figurine, Aunt Jeanne Marie walked into the room. Smiling she said, “Your mother bought me that. It’s a funny story.” Then she went on to tell me where he came from.

Several years earlier, after a visit with my mother in Virginia, the two of them were rummaging through a gift shop at Dulles Airport while waiting for my aunt’s flight to leave. Unexpectedly, the figurine caught Aunt Jeanne Marie’s eye. For some reason, she said, the little wizard embodied all her strongest childhood fantasies. She thought of purchasing him but the price seemed too high for something so silly.

After she hugged my mother goodbye and boarded her flight, she couldn’t stop thinking about the figurine. Something about it stirred precious memories of their childhood. Since Mother was traveling to San Francisco in a few weeks, Aunt Jeanne Marie called and asked her to pick up the figurine on her way out.

Being absent minded, my mother’s plane was in the air before she realized she had forgotten to buy Merlin. Not wanting to let her sister down, she called the store from California and arranged to have the figurine sent to my aunts house.

Still holding Merlin, a swell of emotions rose as I thought of the relationship between my mother and my aunt. For most of my life I had witnessed this close bond between these very different sisters.

When my father died, leaving Mother alone with six kids, it was my Aunt Jeanne Marie who came. Daily I watched her care for my mother when she fold down bed, polished her shoes, and cook our meals. I heard their soft conversation late into the night. Any time my Mother needed help, Aunt Jeanne Marie came back and did it all over again.

A few of years after my mother died I was back at my aunt’s house in San Francisco sitting with her in the dining room. She told me how she longed to pass her possessions along now so she could, “enjoy watching them go on to their next life.” Then she asked me what things of hers I wanted.

I immediately thought of the figurine, “All I want is Merlin,” I said. She looked a little surprised. “To me, he will always represent the love between you and Mother. Long after you’re gone, he will remind me of how close you two were.”

“He’s yours.”

Today Merlin stands front and center on the shelf of the curio cabinet in my formal living room. He looks just as out of place among my china and crystal as he did on the shelf in my aunt’s guest room. But he is one of my most prized possessions. Often, I walk past him without even noticing him. But then some days he catches my eye and I stop and breathe in all he represents.

His presence causes me to reflect on the unique love between Mother and her sister. He reminds me to take time and remember the positive heritage passed along to me. He represents the value of family and the deep love we find there.

Someday I hope my grandchildren will ask me about the unusual figurine in my curio cabinet. When they do, I’ll tell them my Merlin story. I’ll tell them about my mother and my aunt while adding stories of me and my brothers and sisters. I’ll remind them of the importance of family and friendship. I may embellish a bit, but at a time when how we look is more important than who we are, my grand-kids need these strong role models to help mold the men and women they will one day become.

Best Childhood Memory

Not long ago, my daughter Kelly and I were deep in one of our mother daughter conversations when I asked her what she felt was her best childhood memory. Now over thirty and with three kids of her own, I thought she might offer some insight as to my success as a parent. After all, as a mom, I worked hard to give both my children many things deprived of me as a child. With pride, I clothed them well, celebrated birthdays and holidays in style, not to mention all our many vacations.

Eagerly, I awaited her answer. Her head slightly tilted and for a few seconds, she stared out into space. Then her eyes brightened and a broad smile swept over her face. “When you let us go out and play in the rain!”

Shocked, I began to protest, “Kelly, we took you skiing in Colorado, we drove half way across the country, you went to the Minnesota state fair, and what about all those trips to the beach?”

“They were nice Mom. But playing in the rain, that was the best.”

I laughed because like Kelly, I too remembered playing in the rain as one of my fondest childhood memories. Many rainy summer days, I stood beside my mother in front of our huge picture window begging her to let me go outside. After what seemed like hours of her scouring the sky for lightening she would say, “yes.” Eagerly, I darted out the front door.

Once outside the rain smelled fresh and clean as the drops brushed my cheeks and rolled down my face. With delight, I bunched my bare feet against the curb and tried to dam the dirty water as it rushed toward the sewer and disappeared. I loved splashing in the puddles and tromping through the wet grass. I felt so free.

For days I thought about my conversation with Kelly. I wondered what made playing in the rain so memorable. Then it hit me, it could not be planned. It almost always happened spontaneously thereby eliminating any expectations. And without expectations, it was impossible to be disappointed.

Five years ago when I moved to Florida, my life had become a puzzle I could no longer put together. My job took from my family, I had no time for my friends, and our Church bored me to tears. In desperate frustration, I consciously got on my knees and gave up everything–my family, my job, my friends, and my dreams. I told God I no longer wanted anything but Him.

Daily I focused on my Bible studies. I turned to prayer and every decision I faced, I took to the foot of the cross. Since then, my husband has been diagnosed with lung cancer, he’s lost his job, and we’ve faced financial struggles we’ve never seen before. But I refuse to try to manipulate the outcome. Daily, I wait for God to move and I’m in awe of His ability to provide for us.

Living each day without my own set of expectations, I have discovered a freedom amongst the chaos of my life. Daily I wake up and see my struggles, but when I see Him, I know it’s safe and my needs are being met. I’m not sure how He’s doing it, but I trust Him and that trust gives me the strength to get up, get dressed, and go play in the rain.