A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

I was standing in my kitchen Saturday morning preparing lunch for myself and my husband, in reverie chopping celery and spring onions to toss in a salad when a record starts playing on the radio. 

Immediately I was transported back to when I was 16 years old standing in my first ‘serious’ boyfriend’s room where he had just put on Simon and Garfunkel’s record, A Bridge Over Troubled Water.

This was a very strong memory for me because it was the first time I had been alone in a room with a young man without any adults around – his parents were out for the afternoon.

I thought he was very cool because his parents had allowed him to convert their basement into his own ‘pad.’  He had a sofa, table, chairs, something to make drinks with and his OWN record player.

He asked me if I’d heard this record before and I think I’d replied I had heard it on the radio.  He asked me if I had ever listened to the lyrics.  I had never really actually listened to the lyrics of a song before.  I’d always known I’d liked the tune, liked the chorus but had never given it the attention it actually deserved. 

That one question stayed with me throughout my life and since that day I have always made of point of actually listening to the lyrics. 

When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all

I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon+and+garfunkel/bridge+over+troubled+water_20124580.html ]
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

If my memory serves me right from all those years ago I think we listened to that record over and over again in those very happy couple of hours in his basement.

So thank you Peter for that truly amazing gift.

This is my first attempt at a challenge from Rachel Harrie

The rules are

First Campaigner Challenge, The Challenge is:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

·         end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

·         include the word "orange" in the story

·         write in the same genre you normally write

·         make your story 200 words exactly!

I write in the form of poetry and here is my attempt........ I managed all the optional challenges

 Shadows crept across the wall blocking out the colours

She thought there might be more smell to the flowers

The soft feel of the petals, silky satin to the touch

A gratifying sensation that could never be enough

The dewdrops sparkling through a diamond faceted tear

The purity of nature shining through washing away her fear

Nurturing and nourishing the vibrant orange blossom

A carefully selected rarity in the botanical kingdom

She was pinning all her hopes and dreams on finding a cure

There should be no marks or stains just totally pure

Wonderment, a joy to behold, her heart swollen with pride

Now as time progresses on, advances quickly like a landslide

Her mobile communicator starts emitting its warning hum

She places it to her ear as the voice whispers ‘it’s time, Madam.’

She inhales a deep felt soul searching sigh before she acquiesces

She stands slowly taking time to arrange her dress to hide her crutches

She turns her grimace into a wide smile and holds in the pain

Even those closest to her have never heard her complain

Her personal time spent in the garden was so sacred

And as she turned her face away everything faded.

I hope you like it.

LILY, MY FRIEND

My friend of the past 37 years passed away last week and this is my tribute to my friend, Lily.

From my husband and my family

The release of pain has taken me away

I’ve left you all behind to carry on

As I join my daughter and her baby

Both of whom were taken too early.

You have to continue on without me

I know you are feeling angry

Sad and grieving, your hearts are breaking

I want you to know it was not of my making

Time to heal and time for praying

I couldn’t stay for another day

So I slipped peacefully away

Without a fuss, no bright lights

I quietly left to start my new venture

Although not with my life-long partner

Remember me as I remember you

Loving hearts and memories hard to bear

The fun and laughter that we all share

Wipe away the traces of your tears

And think of all our happy years.

As the time moves and the grating, aching pain

Changes from sharp shock into a more mellow domain

Here in heaven protected by the angels

I’ll be watching and loving you all from afar

Sprinkling you all with love from my star

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT YOU

VALENTINE’S DAY

These are the words that I used to express my feelings to my lovely husband.  These are the lyrics of a song from an album called ‘Come On, Come On, sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

We used this as our song when my husband and I were first courting. ‘Courting’ that’s a lovely word that isn’t used enough these days in my mind.

The definition of courting is

Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind.

To hear you say my name, to see you search my eyes
To feel you touch my hand, it more than satisfies.
If I was not the first, just say I'll be the last
It's too much to expect, but it's not too much to ask.

Now I can only dream of being all you need
And I can only try to be the reason why
You think about today and forget about the past
It's too much to expect, but it's not too much to ask.
Now I can only dream of being all you need
And I can only try to be the reason why
You think about today 'cause the past is just the past
It's too much to expect, but it doesn't hurt to ask
It's too much to expect, but it's not too much to ask.

I didn't have much money at the time so I typed these words out and put them in a pretty frame and gave that to him.  These words mean a lot to us as we’d both been married before, it’s my second marriage and his third.         

My parents will have been married for 59 years this summer – that is romance without the need for Valentine’s Day presents.

My mother is a very wise woman and when I asked her why she chose to marry my dad she said:

He was the only person I could imagine myself growing old with.

I think that is something that we should all keep in mind when we are contemplating any type of relationshipcommitment whether it is formalised by marriage vows or not.                                 

If you are celebrating Valentine's Day I wish you a very romantic day with lots of love.

VALENTINES DAY

Valentines day is on Tuesday next week - so here are my thoughts

A romantic dinner à deux......

No sense of time – the last ones in the restaurant.........

Although the grand gestures aren't always the most romantic things...........

Sometimes it’s the little things that are the most romantic – a touch here, a look there, a kiss unexpectedly, putting his arms around you while you are stirring a pot of something on the cooker.  

It’s not necessarily the big gestures that are the romance in a relationship especially in a long term relationship. 

It could be something as simple as cutting slices of bread for you before he goes to work for your lunchtime sandwich.

It could be as simple as him always putting the toilet seat down!

It could be placing an extra gift on a branch of the Christmas tree that isn't found until much later in the day.

It is getting rid of the spider in the bathroom before you spot it. 

Making extra time for each other can be one of the most romantic things in the world.

My husband welling up with tears in his eyes watching a soppy movie knowing that he feels comfortable enough around me to allow his emotions to come through.

Laughing so hard with each other that the tears are streaming down your faces and you can't remember what you are laughing at.

Love is.......... ever increasing ripples

LOVE IS ....... UNITED AS ONE