Valentine's Day thoughts... by Loretta Goddard

On this day when we celebrate love, I thought I'd share the following.

A while ago my husband of 33 years, Hule, went out of town for more than a week.  I usually look forward to being on my own, doing whatever I want, but with each day that passes solitude turns to loneliness and I begin to notice all the ways I miss him.  I wrote about this progression and left it on his pillow when he returned home.  James Taylor sings reminding us to, "Shower the people you love with love, tell them the way that you feel...." I think this is a good rule to live by and strive to do so.

Here I share it with all others in love to remind us to appreciate what we have and who we have, while we have it, while we have them, and while they can hear us, to say it....

Without You

Without you

I sleep in the middle of the bed on the bump that has formed between each of our dips.

I spread out my arms and legs just because I can,

And I hog all the covers.

Without you

I have full control of the remote.

“To flip or not to flip,” that is now my question.

I rent chick flicks with no consultation or concession.

I turn off the TV in the middle of the show if I want, and head straight to bed—no protests—when I feel tired.

Without you

I keep my stack of books and papers out next to my favorite chair;

but your space stays as neat as a pen—

no piles of papers or tower of books to put away

or sigh over.

Even all the pillows remain perched in their proper place on the couch, neatly arranged.

Without you

Every night I can do exactly what I want to…

 But, not really;

Because what I really want is:

…To have you lying next to me in bed—

each of us in our trough.

…To cook the meals that only you like

and hear your contented praises.

…To watch you cackle out in laughter

as you watch Frasier reruns

and then flip over to “Chopped” or “shoot-‘em-up” movies during commercials.

…To look through your stacks of books

to see what you’re reading

and even to moan as I put them away

and straighten your pillows.

…To feel your warm embrace,

Smell your man smell,

Taste your tender kisses,

See the wrinkles that form around your eyes in conversation,

Hear you say my name and…

Tell you that I am not me—

Without you.