I've been here at Hillcrest, (an old folks home) for a year now. I'm getting to know some of the other single guys and am amazed at our similarities. We all seem to be grieving over the loss of our life's partner. And although we try to forget about her by keeping ourselves busy with the many activities and friendly residents here, We still are having a hard time of it. I'm also aware of so many guys on this site who are in the same boat. We just can't get over it.
Each one of us looks back upon his own wife and considers her a Trophy Wife that was the ultimate grand prize of all time. I personally considered it the greatest achievement of my life that I was able to win my Dear Helen for myself. It's really hard for me to believe that such a pretty and exuberant little girl could fall in love with just an ordinary guy like me.
And best of all, over the 66 years that I had her, she seemed to become more beautiful and vibrant as she aged. This little old 1913 song brings tears to my eyes.
WHEN I LOST YOU
I lost the sunshine and roses I lost the heavens so blue I lost a beautiful rain-bow I lost the morning dew I lost the angel who gave me Summer the whole winter thru I lost the gladness It turned into sadness When I lost you
George, having read your postings over the years, I am sure it was not hard for her to fall in love forever with you. Over the years you remind me of the love stories you read ever once in a while of couples that die within hours of each other or those who tell how they have been married for so long - a love story that is rarely seen now.
No matter how painful the memories are, they are the slippers of the old moments and as long as I am here, those moments are here with me and at times I go to them, not because they are painful, but because they are there. As I grew up, I was so timidly afraid I'm lucky I think that for some time I was never tested if I was a coward. I might have been because I was too afraid. Not now. I'm a leathery veteran of too many wars. I don't know where my feelings went but there are compensations in everything. Memories are like that. A form of compensation for what's not here anymore. Until we meet again. Don't know how. Don't know when.