A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Monday, December 31, 2012

A New Year's Eve Repeat...

                     


This is how I celebrated New Year's Eve in 2002. I got a little tiny 4 pack of my favorite wine and made a shrimp cocktail to munch on. I broiled a lobster tail and had a baked potato and a salad... cheesecake for dessert. Then I made a fire in the fireplace and turned on the TV. I was alone on New Year's Eve for the first time in my life. My husband had  passed away and here I was on my own. I did have Maggie, my Cocker Spaniel. for company, and I put a hat on her and took her picture. TV was great that night. PBS was showing music shows from my day....the 50's. Several music shows in fact. I watched them and drank a glass of wine. Little did I know that, in a town, not far away a man was watching the same shows....after broiling himself a steak. He was sitting in his favorite chair, drinking a martini.. He was alone for the first time in his life. We had both been previously married for 46 years. He didn't dress the dog up, but Laddie was by his side. We were both in the same boat. He had been in my husband's class in school and I was in school with his wife. Joe and I didn't know each other, however. He emailed my husband, while he was ill. His wife passed away 5 weeks before my husband died. Joe and I continued the emailing. That New Year's Eve made us both aware of the fact that we didn't want to spend another one alone. We continued on emailing, finally he started visiting, we got the dogs together, I visited his home, and all the while just enjoying spending time together. We threw caution to the wind and got married. Since then, along with being so happy, some difficult things have happened. The saddest times were when we had my little Maggie put to sleep, when she was 15 yrs. old... and then this year our Laddie of 12 yrs. My serious surgery, just months ago, was another test for our marriage. We have found that we are both set in our ways, but we pretty much can resolve our differences by the end of the day. I can only speak for myself and say that it was the best decision that I could have made. Having someone here for me in my old age...to share my ups and downs...We take care of each other... look out for one another...and have fun doing it. We laugh, so many times, at our aging together. We have worked on projects together and find delight in each other's talents. We also share the joys of our kids. We share our Faith and go to Church together. So, this year it will be different. We will go out to a favorite restaurant here in town, after Mass. Then we will come home and have a fire in the fireplace, have some wine, turn on that PBS and look for shows that play the old familiar music, and bring in 2013 together.


Have a safe evening, Balisha

8 comments:

Jan said...

How lovely to hear the story of how you and Joe 'got together'. Sending loads of best wishes for a happy and healthy 2013. Jx

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh Balisha ~ That was a lovely post.

May 2013 be a wonderful year for you and Joe.

FlowerLady Lorraine

marlu said...

A wonderful story and memories for you two!

Happy New Year.

Grandma Kc said...

What a beautiful post. Just stumbled upon your blog and what a great post to read on my first visit. I do hope 2013 brings you much happiness!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

This is a wonderful story Balisha! Happy New Year to you both!

Eileen

Margie's Musings said...

Thanks for sharing the story of how you and Joe got together, Balisha. I lost my Bob in 2010 and as you know from reading my blog, I have adopted my brother-in-law after my sister died in July in 2012. He was miserable alone. I am fine with being alone but I realize not everyone can manage alone.

He is good company but we are just friends and will stay that way. I never want to be married again. 56 years of marriage was all I ever want or need.

I am so happy you and Joe found one another.

Happy New Year to you both.

Barbee' said...

Made tears in my eyes, so sweet.

debra said...

Me too / tears galore! That is the most marvelously "mushy" lovely story !! :)