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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

A Little Dessert with Paul and Midge; or This is What 50 Years Gets You

I watch a ladybug as it climbs up the far wall.

“You just can’t get rid of them,” my mother says.  “It’s like a little bug retreat in here.”

I look around.  I don’t see any others. 

She notices this.  “Trust me,” she says.  “There’s another one here somewhere.”

The house is, of course, spotless.

We are sitting at the kitchen table.  Just a few feet over, arranged on the island between the stove and the sink, are the plates containing the remnants of the meal: platters of fried chicken, abandoned mashed potatoes, lonely asparagus spears, salads and pickles and olives and rolls.

And a slowly warming cheesecake. 

The first slice was delicious, as was the second piece that my mother and I picked at. 

My mother rises, pushes away from the table, wanders toward the dishes.  “Well,” she says.  “I might as well.”

I look over at my father, who is watching her, as he has for over 50 years.  He looks over at me, gives me a wink.

He’s in love with her.

Part way through wrapping up the last of the chicken, my mother looks up, sees him smiling.  She waves an impatient hand at him.  “Oh, you,” she says. 

He laughs.

“Well,” she says.  Standing over the cheesecake, she taps a thoughtful forefinger against her upper lip.  “I suppose I might as well put it away then, Paul.”  She shakes her head, the wonder of the seasons upon her.   “It just warms up so fast now that summer’s here, don’t it?

My father grins.  “Donut?” he says.  “Oh, no, thanks, Midge. “  He glances over at me quickly, hazel eyes twinkling.   “I’m too full of cheesecake.”



And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what you get after 50 years of marriage.

23 comments:

Shelly said...

What a lovely, wonderful piece. Thank you for bringing us in with you.

(And I am closing my blog for a while, but I will certainly be back to check on things Chez Pearl!)

Pearl said...

Shelly, :-)

I hope you're not gone long... Where are you going? Will contact you...

Pearl said...
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Anonymous said...

Hidden messages delivered in code, wrapped in love. Yep....that's how it goes.

jeanie said...

Who needs romance when you've got patter?

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

So classic. Reminds me of the 50 years my grandparents had together.

You have a way of making me want to meet the people you write about, although I feel as if I already know them, thanks to your words. That is a gift, my friend.

Pearl said...

Delores, yes. :-) It's touching.

jeannie, it's like a romantic comedy up there sometimes...

Dawn, I love that. I would like to think that someday you WOULD meet them and say to yourself, 'yep, this is pretty much how I envisioned it'.

Catalyst said...

Uh, oh. SWMBO and I just celebrated our 43rd! No cheesecake.

jenny_o said...
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jenny_o said...

Like a pair of old shoes, as a lady of my acquaintance calls it. Comfortable and comforting.

Elephant's Child said...

And the warmth and the comfort of that relationship can be felt across the world. Thank you.

Connie said...

Very sweet. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. :)

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Awwwwww. YAM xx

Jono said...

I'm at 31 years and waiting for those cheesecake moments.

Notes From ABroad said...

We were going to have our 41st anniversary in November.. last November. And I loved him as much as I did the day we got married.

Gigi said...

Perfectly beautiful and reminds me of the patter between my mother-in-law and father-in-law. We are headed into our 23rd year (or is it 24? Who knows anymore) and have developed our own patter with the love hidden in between.

Sioux Roslawski said...

Pearl--What a sweet post. Does the twinkle in your dad's eye ever dim?

Geo. said...

Delightful tableau with universal appeal.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

I liked this made me think of my grandparents and my parents

Anonymous said...

Good things shared over here!

River said...

Your parents are adorable.

the walking man said...

Was there any MI jerky as an appetizer? You were just fortunate pearl, we got the one on the road just ahead of you.

Watson said...

Happy Anniversary to two lovely people!