Deep Abiding Love

There was a knock at my door...which doesn't happen very often out in the middle of no where.  It was my neighbor, Mr. Fields.  He was stopping by to talk to my husband about repairing some fences that separate our properties.  Mr. Fields is 96 years old. 

He stood outside my back door wearing a crisp light blue shirt, khaki pants, and nice leather loafer style shoes.  These are his work clothes and he was about to get on his tractor and plow up his fields preparing for the eventual planting of wheat when our chances of rain are better than pigs taking flight.  I told him that Ed wasn't home and had been gone every day since they last spoke.  Mr. Fields said he understood...stating that he was a hard worker too and there was nothing wrong with being a hard working man.

He has always gotten up at 5 AM without an alarm.  He goes to the café and orders one egg and one piece of toast to go with his coffee.  The other men in the café give him a hard time cause that's all he ever orders, to which he replies "I only eat what I need to.  I don't eat too much and I don't get fat or tired." His wife used to cook breakfast for him every morning.

Her name was Kate. 

When he was a spry nineteen year old, he was at the stock barn at the county fair.  He looked up to see a vision of loveliness and followed her to the building where the handmade quilts were on display.  He recalls just walking up to her and plainly stating "I'd like to know you."  They courted for the next four years.  It might be up to six months in between their dates.  In a day and time where relationships are quickly started and ended with nonstop communication, this fascinates me deeply.  They were married for sixty-four years.  Impressive by any one's standards.  In all that time he said he never found a fault with her and their time together was peaceful, without quarrel.  He said a woman like that doesn't come around very often.  She left for her eternal home nine years ago.

For an hour I watched his face as he spoke of her with such love and devotion.  His eyes lit up and there was such a respectful tone in his voice recalling the memories which he holds more dearly than any earthly possession.  I felt like I knew Kate personally when he was done talking.

I promised Mr. Fields that we would eat lunch with him this week and flush out the details on our shared fence project.  He was starting to walk towards his new shiny white Ford pickup truck with all the bells and whistles, and I asked him if he had a picture of Kate he could bring with him next week.  I want to attach a face to name and see this woman that still abides within the heart of her husband.

The word love gets thrown around a lot these days.  So much so it seems, that it has lost its meaning.  We use it to describe shoes, food, and many other temporary things that could never return an emotion.  The word so cheapened that it is forgotten as soon as the next sentence is spoken, but love...real love...isn't temporary.  It isn't a possession.  It was right in front of me as plain as day.  It was beautiful.