Love, Reposted: For my wife on our 13th anniversary
For the past few years, my father and I have taken a week or so at the end of the summer to travel together, just the two of us. This year, we’ve gone to Germany to visit my brother and his wife, artists who recently moved here to take a stab at the European art scene; I’m writing this, in fact, from outside a Frankfurt Starbucks in the midst of morning rush hour, the only place I could find a decent Internet connection, though the price is pretty dear.
It’s precious time lost, for a family man who teaches school; I tend to have to hit the ground running when I return, and though the time abroad with my father is eminently worth it, going away at the end of August usually means I’m away for my anniversary. This year is no exception. Today, in fact, marks our thirteenth year together. And here I am, watching well-dressed business people walk the cobblestone streets in their suits, while my heart is still at home where it belongs.
I could go on and on here — about how hard it is to get emails from my wife, telling how much the kids miss me; about what a fool I am, to keep missing my chance to celebrate the best damn thing in my life. But time is short at 8 Euros per hour, and I’ve said it all before. Here, then, is a repost originally shared on Valentine’s Day 2008. It says what it needs to, and then some.
Happy Anniversary, sweetie. I love you more than ever.
I remember the night we drove everywhere just to find a place to commit ourselves to a future together. It was cold, like tonight is cold.
It wasn’t Valentine’s Day. But it was love.
Looking back, I can’t believe it took me so long to accept that the feelings I had for you were real, and worth risking everything. All that time I thought I was too broken, too battered. All that time, I thought a fool like me didn’t deserve a woman like you.
But you always believed. And every morning when I kiss you in your sleep before I leave, I thank you for that calm certainty. Without your willingness to wait forever, I might never have found the courage to jump into the abyss.
A companion post to Sunday’s songs of Love and Fear, then: a soundtrack for that long shared silence; a short sweet story of the miracle of us. If I could give you anything, it would be this feeling, always. No longer afraid, I fly with you.
- Rosie Thomas, Songbird (orig. Fleetwood Mac)
(from These Friends of Mine) - Swati, I’m On Fire (orig. Bruce Springsteen)
(from Small Gods) - Liz Durrett, How Can I Tell You (orig. Cat Stevens)
(from Liz Durrett’s website) - Richard Shindell, My Love Will Follow You (orig. Buddy & Julie Miller)
(from Somewhere Near Patterson) - Matthew Good, True Love Will Find You In The End (orig. Daniel Johnston)
(from Hospital Music) - Patty Larkin, Have A Little Faith In Me (orig. John Hiatt)
(from Rollin’ Into Memphis: The Songs of John Hiatt; more Patty here) - M. Ward, Let My Love Open The Door (orig. Pete Townshend)
(from Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs; more M. Ward here) - Alison Krauss, I Will (orig. The Beatles)
(from Now That I’ve Found You: A Collection)
Thanks to all who come, read, sample, and support artists.
May you, too, find love.
Category: Uncategorized
August 19th, 2009 at 1:10 am
man, what an incredible blog you’ve got here. there’s nothing like a stripped down, gravitas-infused folk cover to make one rethink a song. and it’s just incredible that you have all these compiled here so wonderfully. please keep it up!
August 19th, 2009 at 7:02 am
[...] Click here to go to CLD to check M Ward covering Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open The Door”, Alison Krauss covers The Beatles’ “I Will”, Rosie Thomas covers Fleetwood Mac “Songbird”, Patty Larkin covers John Hiatt’s “Have a Little Faith In Me”, Swati covers Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire”, and more. [...]
August 19th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Awwwww! That was a very touching and so sweet blog! Your wife is so lucky to have you. I hope that same love will be experienced by homeless dogs as well. They badly need it. Save A Dog: http://apps.facebook.com/save-a-dog/
August 19th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Happy anniversary!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Aww i love a romantic soul!
Congratulations to your whole family
what a joy to be loved!
August 21st, 2009 at 12:44 am
Happy Anniversary to you and the Missus!
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I feel forever blessed you trusted me enough to take that leap and continue year after year to choose to walk next to me on this adventure of ours… knowing your love I am whole, no matter the distance or challenges before us. Came back across that ocean soon.
Yours, always and deeply– your wife
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
[...] Here, then, is a repost originally shared on Valentine’s Day 2008. It says what it needs to, and then some. Happy Anniversary, sweetie. I love you more than ever. I remember the night we drove everywhere just to find a place to commit …Next Page [...]
September 21st, 2009 at 8:29 pm
[...] Out On E Street cover project. There’s recent covers of I’m On Fire in both last month’s Love, Reposted post and our March Tribute to Tribute Albums, too. I’ve even re-upped the links on an old Star [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
[...] Liz Durrett covers Cat Stevens, plus other songs of love [...]