NotevenasIshookandtrembleduncontrollablyinthetrenches,didIforgetyourface.Iwouldsithuddledintothewetmud,terrified,asthehailsofbulletsandmortarscrasheddownaroundme.Iwouldclutchmyrifletightlytomyheart,andthinkagainofthatveryfirstdaywemet.Iwouldcryoutinfear,asthenoiseofwarbeatdownaroundme.But,asIthoughtofyouandsawyousmilingbackatme,everythingaroundmewouldbebecomesilent,andIwouldbewithyouagainforafewpreciousmoments,farfromthedeathanddestruction.ItwouldnotbeuntilIopenedmyeyesonceagain,thatIwouldseeandhearthecarnageofthewararoundme.</p>
Icannottellyouhowstrongmyloveforyouwasbackthen,whenIreturnedtoyouonleaveintheSeptember,feelingbattered,bruisedandfragile.WeheldeachothersotightIthoughtwewouldburst.IaskedyoutomarrymetheverysamedayandIwhoopedwithjoywhenyoulookeddeepintomyeyesandsaid“yes“tobeingmybride.</p>
I“mlookingatourweddingphotonow,theoneonourdressingtable,nexttoyourjewellerybox.Ithinkofhowyoungandinnocentwewerebackthen.IrememberbeingonthechurchstepsgrinninglikeaCheshirecat,whenyousaidhowdashingandhandsomeIlookedinmyuniform.Thephotoisoldandfadednow,butwhenIlookatit,Ionlyseethebrightvibrantcolorsofouryouth.Icanstillremembereverydetailoftheprettyweddingdressyourmothermadeforyou,withitsfinedelicatelaceandprettypearls.IfIconcentratehardenough,Icansmellthesweetnessofyourweddingbouquetasyouhelditsoproudlyforeveryonetosee.</p>
Irememberbeingsooverenjoyed,whenayearlater,yougentlyheldmyhandtoyourwaistandwhisperedinmyearthatweweregoingtobeafamily.</p>
Iknowbothourchildrenloveyoudetheyareoutsidethedoornow,waiting.</p>
DoyourememberhowIpanickedlikeamadmanwhenJonathonwasbornIcanstillpictureyoulaughingandsmilingatmenow,asIclumsilyheldhimfortheveryfirsttimeinmyarms.Iwatchedasyourlaughterfadedintotears,asIstaredathimandcriedmyowntearsofjoy.</p>
SarahandTomarrivedthismorningwithlittleTessie.CanyourememberhowwebothhuggedeachothertightlywhenwesawourtinygranddaughterforthefirsttimeIcan“tbelieveshewillbeeightnextmonth.Iamtryingnottocry,mylove,asItellyouhowbeautifulshelookstodayinherprettydressandredshinyshoes,sheremindsmesomuchofyouthatfirstdaywemet.Shehasherhaircutshortnow,justlikeyourswasallthoseyearsago.WhenImetheratthedoorhersmilewrappedaroundmelikeawarmglove,justlikeyoursusedtodo,mydarling.</p><div id='gc1' class='gcontent1'><script type='text/javascript'>try{ggauto();} catch(ex){}</script>