If there’s a center to my universe, it has to be Sunday brunch at the Boss household. Ms. Boss whips up some fine breakfast food – I can’t decide whether French toast or biscuits are my favorite – and serves some excellent coffee. I read the New York Times aloud from the kitchen table and we discuss the issues of the day as coffee house jazz plays in the background. If all that isn’t good enough, there comes a moment during this time when she drops the spatula and I put aside the Times and we hold each other close and let the beat guide us and the love overtake us. It never gets old.
The universe had to come from somewhere. Our ‘big bang’ occurred on our second date. Ms. Boss worked Saturday though Wednesday evening shift while I worked Wednesday through Saturday midnights. By process of elimination, we determined that the only possible time we could have a date was on Sunday morning. I got home from work just after 7, she showed up shortly afterwards. I made breakfast – I can’t remember whether it was cheese grits or cream of wheat. What I do remember is that we talked… and we talked… and we talked for hours. While you may not perceive this from my writing, I’m definitely not a talker. Morning became afternoon and a Sunday became a lifetime. The one thing I know? Everything is good as long as the two of us continue talking.
Some of you may have already gleaned that the pivotal moment of my life referred to above was our second date. We did manage a spontaneous first date a few days before what was supposed to be our first date. This trip to the local pub was not one of my greatest moments. I gave her plenty of reasons never to date me again both figuratively and literally. Despite the fact that I was at a pub, beer had nothing to do with it because I hadn’t had a drop – it was my native ‘charm’ plain and simple. It is a miracle that she ever showed at my house for the second date. It is an even greater miracle she has stayed with me for sixteen years.
Ms. Boss’ life has not been an easy one. Filled with twists and turns and obstacles aplenty, she has made herself successful by her own sheer will and her ability to adapt. As her husband, I’m proud of what she’s accomplished and grateful for all that she’s done for our family.
I’ve tried in vain for several weeks to come up with a single word that describes Ms. Boss and I just can’t come with one that does the trick. Even ‘my everything’ is two words. I’m more smitten with her today than I have ever been.
I’ve set out in this entry to introduce you to the love of my life, but in that regard, I feel I have failed. Such is the enormity of her presence in my life that words cannot possibly capture it all in a way that I find adequate. I can only hope that you, dear reader, will be able to discover her for yourself as I continue the journey that is this blog.
One final word – should fate some day take the sparkle out of her beautiful eyes forever, I will be truly lost.