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>