Archive for July 28th, 2009
One evening many years ago, I walked over to the gym to watch Wayne’s Army team play the town’s basketball team.
The score keeper hadn’t shown up so the ref asked me if I were staying? Would you keep time and score?
I sat down at the little table and Wayne came bounding off the court and sat beside me. He knew who I was and I knew of him only because of his outstanding basketball scores from centre court.
He invited me for coffee after the game and the rest is history. This August we celebrate 44 years.
Wayne has always been thoughtful, very generous and kind. He did middle of the night feedings when I was so tired I didn’t even hear the baby cry, he sat at my bedside after surgeries and cared for toddlers and me after 2 rather major operations 3 months apart.
He let me be my own woman and work if/when I wanted or stay home.
We both worked on our marriage and I’m sure he “gave” many times when I was cranky and unreasonable.
He’s really humorous and loves a good cartoon or joke – still. For our 25th anniversary, he had a band set in diamonds and presented it to me the night before our 25th. That was the first time he ever told me that he used to see me around town and knew that someday he wanted to marry me.
The least I can do is care for him as I know he would care for me.
This is the heart breaking thing, I know I can’t do it forever, not physically or mentally. The day is coming.
He told us the story of almost losing his wife at 11pm last night to heart failure. As he finished telling, he put his head on our table, body racked from great sobs.
Wayne got up and put his arm around him and kind of rocked him.
Tonight as we were sitting outside, the phone rang. It was a report on his wife, now removed from ICU and stable. We chatted for a bit and he said, “You know, that was so special of Wayne to care. Usually I’m doing the hugging. Please tell him thanks.” I passed the phone to Wayne and John thanked him over and over.
Nice way to end the day – - – for all of us, especially them.
