Monday, June 30, 2014

My Best Friend

As you guys know, Patti passed a day before we had met 33 years ago.
Today, June 30th, 1981, we got married and began our adventure through life.

There was smooth sailin' and rough sailin', fair winds and storms, good times and not so good times, but I remember much more good times than bad.

Truly I can say this:
Patti is my best friend and she always had my back, stickin' with me through some hellacious storms, a few that were consequences of foolish choices I had made, yet she never wavered, never sought the easy way out, never quit believing in me, even when I didn't believe in my self.

Before Patti passed, she had gotten me a card for our anniversary. I chose not to open it until today. Just seemed like the right thing to do.
She didn't have the time to write anything on it, but she wouldn't have gotten it for me unless it said whatwas in her heart.

Seems also right to share it with you guys, who I consider good friends, brothers and sisters.

Our lives have taken us in so many different directions since we first became friends, and yet our friendship has remained a gentle bond that keeps us from drifting too far apart.

We've been there for each other in good times and bad, with support and sympathy, laughter, and love.

As I think about our friendship I realize it is one of the God given gifts I cherish most about my life...
And today, I just wanted to be sure you knew it, too.

Thanks Babe, and Happy Anniversary! I love you forever!

11 comments:

julie said...

It's beautiful to see how much she loved you; if everyone were so fortunate, I think we really would have heaven on earth. I hope you have a blessed day, even though it must be a sorrowful sort of blessedness.

Happy Anniversary, Ben.

julie said...

(Doh! And of course having said that, I realize the day was yesterday. But the same applies today. *hugs*)

mushroom said...

Thank you for sharing that, Ben -- even if it did make this old man cry. Happy Anniversary.

John Lien said...

Thanks for sharing that Ben. You and I are running along a similar path (maybe the same one). My wife and I will have our 33rd anniversary at the end of this year. Yeah, we often drive each other crazy but we still are friends. I think that has been the glue. I mean, nobody else would get my dumb jokes or listen to me as I go on about something banal like how many potatoes have sprouted.

Yeah, come to think on it, it is special.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thank you, Julie!
Yesterday was a blessing indeed as I contemplated the astonishing love Patti has for me.

We were much more than best friends, of course, but that was a huge part of our marriage.

((hugs))

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thanks Mushroom,
My eyes were taking on water as well. It was healing and I am joyfull to hear those words from Patti.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

And thank you, John,
Ha! We had some crazy times too, but to paraphrase that great philosopher Waylon it kept us from goin' insane. :)

That's a good point about friendship being the glue. Sticking together through thick n' thin 'cause you know your friend understands you when no one else does.

Special. Good. True. Beautifull.

Joan of Argghh! said...

That was wonderful. And amazing to know there are card-writers out there who know what's important as well. She must have hunted a long time for just the right card!

Thanks for sharing it, Ben.

((hugs!))

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thank you, Joan!
Yes, I bet she did! Every card she ever got me expressed the deep love she felt, often humorously, that left me in awe.
She showed me through her own actions and words how to love, more than I ever had on my own. :)

((Hugs))

Leslie Godwin said...

Ben, I am sorry I didn't this until now. What a beautiful post you wrote, and such a sweet and expressive card she picked for you. Thank you for sharing it.

I'm blown away by your love for her and how you are dealing with your loss. I'm learning so much from you and you are an inspiration!

God bless you, Leslie.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thank you Leslie,
I hafta admit, there are times I feel lost, bereft and incomplete since Patti passed.
And lonely, of course.

Thankfully, that doesn't usually last very long.
Mostly because, as you mentioned at OC yesterday, It comes down to faith.

I have faith that Patti is in a better place with our Father and she is no longer in pain or suffering.
So the only reason I may wallow in grief occasionally is due to my own loss and, yes, selfishness.

Or rather, too much selfishness, I reckon.
Thinking of Patti being perfectly joyful counters that.
And it gets me pondering what my new purpose shall be, of which I'll write about later, for it has been taking shape in my heart and the details are becoming more clear.

I feel much less overwhelmed than I was and I thank God for that! I'm not used to having many overwhelming emotions.

God bless you too, as well as Bob and Your son!