My Love For You ….50 years later
If you take a look at the titles of the stories I wrote months ago when I started my blog, I narrated several stories with the title “My Love For You”. In those stories I wrote about how I meet that girl whom I eventually married. I narrated some romantic moments we had during those first months and years that we began our life’s long journey together. Now I am seventy and my wife, some years younger. More or less fifty years passed since we started our journey. In today’s story I wish to recall to my mind the ups and downs of these years. This is the meaning of the title of to-day’s story, “My Love for You ….50 years later”.
Few years ago, on one of our wedding anniversaries, our children gave us a photo album as a present. Later, I learned that it was the idea of our daughter to give us this present. They wrote on the cover of the album, “The Story Of Our Love” and in fact, the album was full of photos which our children had dug out from a drawer we have which is full of photos which we took through the past years. Under each photo they wrote one or two sentences and when we read everything it was like reading a story, the story of our family. They started with some pictures which they found, of my wife and I before we married. Then there are a couple of photos of our wedding day. They narrated and illustrated with photos the advent of each one of them and put several pictures of each as they grew older. We could see the signs which time engraved on all of us through the years that passed. As we turned the pages we could see several milestones in our life’s journey. We still treasure this album and every now and then we go through it and relive those stages in our life with the memories they bring.
If you take a look at the titles of the stories I wrote months ago when I started my blog, I narrated several stories with the title “My Love For You”. In those stories I wrote about how I meet that girl whom I eventually married. I narrated some romantic moments we had during those first months and years that we began our life’s long journey together. Now I am seventy and my wife, some years younger. More or less fifty years passed since we started our journey. In today’s story I wish to recall to my mind the ups and downs of these years. This is the meaning of the title of to-day’s story, “My Love for You ….50 years later”.
Few years ago, on one of our wedding anniversaries, our children gave us a photo album as a present. Later, I learned that it was the idea of our daughter to give us this present. They wrote on the cover of the album, “The Story Of Our Love” and in fact, the album was full of photos which our children had dug out from a drawer we have which is full of photos which we took through the past years. Under each photo they wrote one or two sentences and when we read everything it was like reading a story, the story of our family. They started with some pictures which they found, of my wife and I before we married. Then there are a couple of photos of our wedding day. They narrated and illustrated with photos the advent of each one of them and put several pictures of each as they grew older. We could see the signs which time engraved on all of us through the years that passed. As we turned the pages we could see several milestones in our life’s journey. We still treasure this album and every now and then we go through it and relive those stages in our life with the memories they bring.
1963 2011
So now let me unfold the happenings I remember when I go through this album and beyond because the photos may only suggest a little of the inner feelings such as happiness, worries, anxiety and other emotions.
About fifty years ago things were somewhat different from today at least for us. Our wedding was very simple and surely it did not cost thousands of pounds (that was the currency at that time) as weddings cost today. Yes it was simple but nice. Our honeymoon was also short and inexpensive because we just went to a hotel here on the island and stayed there for three or four days. We just did not even bother that much about these things because our focus was to enjoy each other. We were so much in love that nothing else mattered.
Then we went to our new cozy home. At last we were married, we were each others'. We had our own home, our own furniture which I had made for us. We slept together, woke up together, we had breakfast together and when I returned home from work we had lunch together and did what we fancied………. always together. Now we were a married couple. This thought made us love each other even more. All our expectations in those years we spent preparing for our married life were fulfilled; we were really happy together.
But as they say, “Life is life!!” After some months my wife got pregnant. We were ecstatic with joy and from the very first month we were waiting eagerly for the fruit of our great love. But to our great disappointment, my wife miscarried and in a moment all our wishes and dreams vanished. It was as if the whole world crumbled. But we helped each other to overcome this disappointment, hoping that it will soon happen again. We still think of this unborn child of ours to this day and wonder ….what if……?????
But months passed and it could not happen again and we were getting worried. In the meantime two of my brothers got married and their wives got pregnant and they had both a baby boy. We were happy for them but we were more conscious of our problem.
At last, after three long years it happened. This time we were extra careful. I used to do almost all the housework for her. I often absented myself from school and abandoned for a while my woodwork to spend more time with my dear wife and to protect our baby whom we already loved although it was not yet born. When it was due we were very excited and we surely would never forget those couple of days which were very difficult for us both; they seemed endless. We prayed and cried together but at last, there it was, a little angel that looked both like her mother and her father. We were so very happy. Now we were a family. When I was at work, I would count every hour and minute till I returned home to my wife and our child.
Three years after we had a baby boy and one year and four months after, we had yet another boy. By now we were married for seven years but surely we were not affected by the proverbial ‘seven year itch’. Now I do not want to give the impression that we were in the Garden of Eden. We had our differences and we did and still do not agree on every issue and we even have our quarrels but when there is love, things will solve by themselves. Even as regards other women, I had several temptations and a couple of them were very strong but how could I be unfaithful to the girl of my dreams, to the love of my life, to the mother of my children ………………again love conquered all obstacles.
It took seven more years and another miscarriage to have our fourth child. It was nice to have again that atmosphere of joy which a newborn brings. It was like we were starting our married life anew. It was another boy and three years later we had our fifth child and it was again another male. To think that at one time we were afraid that we won’t be able to have children. All my brothers and sisters got married and they all have just two children, except one who has one child. On occasions when all of us meet with our families, we are really proud of all our wonderful children who everybody admires individually and as a family.
In the album there are several pictures of our family picnicking in the country in winter and enjoying the sea in summer. Looking at the photos we wondered how time flies. The children got bigger, taller and changed almost by the day. The elder children had already finished school and were working while the younger were still studying. My wife and I were now in our forties and looking at the first pages in the album and then at the last few pages, we could notice that we were getting quite old. To be fair it seemed that time left its trace much more on me than on my wife because she still looks quite younger than she actually is.
Our fifth son was six years old and to our great surprise, my wife got pregnant again. We were a little worried but after the initial shock, we accepted the fact with joy and prayed and hoped for the best. In fact our sixth child, who (for a change!!!) was another boy, boosted our family with more joy and happiness. When our friends comment that we have one girl and five boys, jokingly we say that we kept trying to have another girl but every time we miss our target so we try again. We had a full house and as they say the more the merrier; after all I am used to have twenty or more children (in class) and I know how to handle them. My wife and I always wished to have a big family.
About fifty years ago things were somewhat different from today at least for us. Our wedding was very simple and surely it did not cost thousands of pounds (that was the currency at that time) as weddings cost today. Yes it was simple but nice. Our honeymoon was also short and inexpensive because we just went to a hotel here on the island and stayed there for three or four days. We just did not even bother that much about these things because our focus was to enjoy each other. We were so much in love that nothing else mattered.
Then we went to our new cozy home. At last we were married, we were each others'. We had our own home, our own furniture which I had made for us. We slept together, woke up together, we had breakfast together and when I returned home from work we had lunch together and did what we fancied………. always together. Now we were a married couple. This thought made us love each other even more. All our expectations in those years we spent preparing for our married life were fulfilled; we were really happy together.
But as they say, “Life is life!!” After some months my wife got pregnant. We were ecstatic with joy and from the very first month we were waiting eagerly for the fruit of our great love. But to our great disappointment, my wife miscarried and in a moment all our wishes and dreams vanished. It was as if the whole world crumbled. But we helped each other to overcome this disappointment, hoping that it will soon happen again. We still think of this unborn child of ours to this day and wonder ….what if……?????
But months passed and it could not happen again and we were getting worried. In the meantime two of my brothers got married and their wives got pregnant and they had both a baby boy. We were happy for them but we were more conscious of our problem.
At last, after three long years it happened. This time we were extra careful. I used to do almost all the housework for her. I often absented myself from school and abandoned for a while my woodwork to spend more time with my dear wife and to protect our baby whom we already loved although it was not yet born. When it was due we were very excited and we surely would never forget those couple of days which were very difficult for us both; they seemed endless. We prayed and cried together but at last, there it was, a little angel that looked both like her mother and her father. We were so very happy. Now we were a family. When I was at work, I would count every hour and minute till I returned home to my wife and our child.
Three years after we had a baby boy and one year and four months after, we had yet another boy. By now we were married for seven years but surely we were not affected by the proverbial ‘seven year itch’. Now I do not want to give the impression that we were in the Garden of Eden. We had our differences and we did and still do not agree on every issue and we even have our quarrels but when there is love, things will solve by themselves. Even as regards other women, I had several temptations and a couple of them were very strong but how could I be unfaithful to the girl of my dreams, to the love of my life, to the mother of my children ………………again love conquered all obstacles.
It took seven more years and another miscarriage to have our fourth child. It was nice to have again that atmosphere of joy which a newborn brings. It was like we were starting our married life anew. It was another boy and three years later we had our fifth child and it was again another male. To think that at one time we were afraid that we won’t be able to have children. All my brothers and sisters got married and they all have just two children, except one who has one child. On occasions when all of us meet with our families, we are really proud of all our wonderful children who everybody admires individually and as a family.
In the album there are several pictures of our family picnicking in the country in winter and enjoying the sea in summer. Looking at the photos we wondered how time flies. The children got bigger, taller and changed almost by the day. The elder children had already finished school and were working while the younger were still studying. My wife and I were now in our forties and looking at the first pages in the album and then at the last few pages, we could notice that we were getting quite old. To be fair it seemed that time left its trace much more on me than on my wife because she still looks quite younger than she actually is.
Our fifth son was six years old and to our great surprise, my wife got pregnant again. We were a little worried but after the initial shock, we accepted the fact with joy and prayed and hoped for the best. In fact our sixth child, who (for a change!!!) was another boy, boosted our family with more joy and happiness. When our friends comment that we have one girl and five boys, jokingly we say that we kept trying to have another girl but every time we miss our target so we try again. We had a full house and as they say the more the merrier; after all I am used to have twenty or more children (in class) and I know how to handle them. My wife and I always wished to have a big family.
All the family about twenty years ago During Christmas Dinner 2011 During a barbeque 2011
Now let’s look at another aspect in life and this does not show in the album. In English there is a proverb which says, “Life begins at forty”. In Maltese we have one proverb which can be said to be just the opposite. For those migrants I am going to say it in Maltese, “Mal-kwaranta, jibda jittanta”, which in simple words it means that at forty, one begins to experience health problems. I think this is very true. As I told you in other stories I had several health problems which were mainly the consequence of that injury I suffered when I was seventeen. As a doctor once explained to me, our body is made to last normally, more or less eighty years. So, like a machine, the older we get the more likely it is to feel the wear and tear…………. joints begin to stiffen, we get back ache, high blood pressure and other ailments. I am saying this because now that I am seventy I can compare life before and after.
My several experiences of when I was hospitalized were that in those not so nice moments, one realizes how much his loved ones care for him. In fact, in such occasions the family is more united and one can feel the love form each and every member of the family. In these circumstances, my dear wife was at a loss. She would visit me morning and evenings, always trying to bring with her something special as she knew that I don’t eat from hospital food. When it was time to leave, I could read in her face that she felt sad to go home without me. In one of these occasions she collapsed in hospital and was detained there for three or four days …………… in another ward.......... of course.
But let’s return to the middle part of our life’s journey together. As time passed, we began to experience something new. Our elder children began to prepare to get married. First our daughter got married and it was really distressing to see her bed empty at night and her empty seat when we set at table. We missed her so much!.... but we had to adapt because after all we had done the same, a long time ago. A couple of years later our second and third sons married both within two months. Our big family was no longer that big. We used to be eight in all, then we were five……. but that’s life!!! Some years later, our forth son got married and left too. Last July was the turn of our fifth son Daniel (do you remember his story?). Our youngest son is not married yet but often he does not sleep at home. In a few years time he will be married too. And we are back to square one, my wife and I alone…………..our house seems so empty and everything is so quiet …………..at night it is a bit weird! But all of our married children visit us with their family at least once a week. On Sundays we still organize picnics in winter and boat trips in summer. On Christmas Day they all come to our house for the Christmas dinner; when we all get together we are twenty one.
Now let’s look at another aspect in life and this does not show in the album. In English there is a proverb which says, “Life begins at forty”. In Maltese we have one proverb which can be said to be just the opposite. For those migrants I am going to say it in Maltese, “Mal-kwaranta, jibda jittanta”, which in simple words it means that at forty, one begins to experience health problems. I think this is very true. As I told you in other stories I had several health problems which were mainly the consequence of that injury I suffered when I was seventeen. As a doctor once explained to me, our body is made to last normally, more or less eighty years. So, like a machine, the older we get the more likely it is to feel the wear and tear…………. joints begin to stiffen, we get back ache, high blood pressure and other ailments. I am saying this because now that I am seventy I can compare life before and after.
My several experiences of when I was hospitalized were that in those not so nice moments, one realizes how much his loved ones care for him. In fact, in such occasions the family is more united and one can feel the love form each and every member of the family. In these circumstances, my dear wife was at a loss. She would visit me morning and evenings, always trying to bring with her something special as she knew that I don’t eat from hospital food. When it was time to leave, I could read in her face that she felt sad to go home without me. In one of these occasions she collapsed in hospital and was detained there for three or four days …………… in another ward.......... of course.
But let’s return to the middle part of our life’s journey together. As time passed, we began to experience something new. Our elder children began to prepare to get married. First our daughter got married and it was really distressing to see her bed empty at night and her empty seat when we set at table. We missed her so much!.... but we had to adapt because after all we had done the same, a long time ago. A couple of years later our second and third sons married both within two months. Our big family was no longer that big. We used to be eight in all, then we were five……. but that’s life!!! Some years later, our forth son got married and left too. Last July was the turn of our fifth son Daniel (do you remember his story?). Our youngest son is not married yet but often he does not sleep at home. In a few years time he will be married too. And we are back to square one, my wife and I alone…………..our house seems so empty and everything is so quiet …………..at night it is a bit weird! But all of our married children visit us with their family at least once a week. On Sundays we still organize picnics in winter and boat trips in summer. On Christmas Day they all come to our house for the Christmas dinner; when we all get together we are twenty one.
On one wall of the living room we have two photos of my wife and me and the other six are of our children with their families.
Fifty years passed since that 29th of June when we met (see story # 3). We are so thankful for our great love, for each and every one of our children and every member of their families. Being a big family we were anything but well-off but we are rich, our richness is the love between us all and my wife and I feel blessed and thankful to the One above. Perhaps this is also due to our Christian faith which my wife and I cultivated especially in those twenty years during which we attended the prayer meetings.
We really need this faith at the present because as you may know we are experiencing the worst thing that ever happened to our family. I do not wish to go into details about this but I hope and pray that one day soon I will be able to narrate the story of one of our sons and this story will have a happy ending. That day I will proclaim to the world with all my might what love and faith can do…………..yes we are humbly asking Him for a miracle but my faith tells me that miracles do happen.
In this tragic situation my dear wife and I are bonded together spiritually in a special way. We pray and cry a lot together………. I was going to say ‘alone’, but we are sure that we are not alone, many are praying with us and besides that, God is with us.
Today instead of the ‘Quote of the day’, I wish you to listen and watch to the song, “My Love for you” by Johnny Mathis. Besides, in story # 8 with this title, I mentioned another song which I dedicated to my girlfriend long ago. It’s “Younger than springtime” from the musical ‘South Pacific’ and it is sung by John Kerr.
But this is not all; to seal my love towards my wife and as a memorial of this story I wish you to listen to yet a third song which is also sung by Johnny Mathis and it is precisely from the film ‘Love Story’ and its title is, “Where do I begin?”
1. My love for you http://youtu.be/vY0_gEPrOWk
2. Younger than springtime http://youtu.be/BmsOaip-YE8
3. Where do I begin? http://youtu.be/Gf28VYJASqQ
Fifty years passed since that 29th of June when we met (see story # 3). We are so thankful for our great love, for each and every one of our children and every member of their families. Being a big family we were anything but well-off but we are rich, our richness is the love between us all and my wife and I feel blessed and thankful to the One above. Perhaps this is also due to our Christian faith which my wife and I cultivated especially in those twenty years during which we attended the prayer meetings.
We really need this faith at the present because as you may know we are experiencing the worst thing that ever happened to our family. I do not wish to go into details about this but I hope and pray that one day soon I will be able to narrate the story of one of our sons and this story will have a happy ending. That day I will proclaim to the world with all my might what love and faith can do…………..yes we are humbly asking Him for a miracle but my faith tells me that miracles do happen.
In this tragic situation my dear wife and I are bonded together spiritually in a special way. We pray and cry a lot together………. I was going to say ‘alone’, but we are sure that we are not alone, many are praying with us and besides that, God is with us.
Today instead of the ‘Quote of the day’, I wish you to listen and watch to the song, “My Love for you” by Johnny Mathis. Besides, in story # 8 with this title, I mentioned another song which I dedicated to my girlfriend long ago. It’s “Younger than springtime” from the musical ‘South Pacific’ and it is sung by John Kerr.
But this is not all; to seal my love towards my wife and as a memorial of this story I wish you to listen to yet a third song which is also sung by Johnny Mathis and it is precisely from the film ‘Love Story’ and its title is, “Where do I begin?”
1. My love for you http://youtu.be/vY0_gEPrOWk
2. Younger than springtime http://youtu.be/BmsOaip-YE8
3. Where do I begin? http://youtu.be/Gf28VYJASqQ