I have the very good fortune to look out my window, into the backyard of my neighbors, and witness a love story, it warms my heart. I just want to be clear that I am not stalking my neighbors it is the way the yards are set up, my backyard leads to their backyard, in actual fact, their backyard was my backyard when my house was built in the 1780s and then that part of my back yard became their back yard and that might explain why I see so much if that makes sense.
The thing is that I see their two white heads, as far as I know, they are both in their mid-70s and they work on their property together. The project of the moment is reshingling the ” barn” which in fact was once our property’s barn. The barn is a magnificent old cedar-shingled barn with Ivy growing up the sides. Our friends have decided to re-shingle it before winter comes.
So I see these two white heads together, I see one holding a shingle and the other nailing the shingle. I see one resting and watching while the other one works and then they switch and I see them standing back and admiring the progress. I see them figuring it out!
And I hear, well when I am in my garden I hear, talking not what they say but the tones, I hear the giggling and I also hear the hammering and I also hear the quiet, the way it is with two companions, no need for non-stop talking.
I have just said that what I see is a white-headed couple reshingling their barn, that is only partly true. Cuz what I see is love, cooperation, compassion, and companionship. I see respect, connection, and commitment to one another and the project. I see a love story and it warms my heart. And I think to myself what a wonderful thing it is to love and be loved and I think what a beautiful example of love throughout the decades. I think about Hollywood’s version of love and fairy tale endings and I think hmmm, I would choose the love of the ages over and over again. Maybe, just maybe I see all this because I also have the love of the ages. The love that started so many decades ago at a Christmas party, is a love that not only withstands the years but grows deeper with every passing moment.
I thank my friends for their love and I am grateful to be witness to the love story in the backyard.
