Destined

Many years ago I met a boy at public school. I was twelve in grade seven. He was one grade ahead of me and I had a terrible crush on him. I truly believed he did not know I even existed and I watched him from a distance for six months.

I remember so clearly my feelings of empathy then. One day he arrived at school around lunch all dressed up in a brown suede jacket and black cord pants and looked so sad. Later I found out he had been to his grandmother’s funeral. He never even told his teacher why he was late and got a detention for not having a note.

Halloween came and a friend invited me to her party and I was sure she had a crush on this boy as well. It was the first mixed party I had ever gone to and I knew he would be there. I wore my best powder blue Dalkeith sweater. We played Spotlight and he picked me to kiss. I was floating on air. But then I had to get home for my curfew. A neighbourhood boy said he would walk me home. I still recall our eyes meeting as I left with the other boy and he watched me from the girl’s porch. Our future was already decided even if I didn’t know it.

My teenage crush was considered a bad boy by my parents. He was from a broken home. He was tested at school to see if he just didn’t pay attention, or didn’t apply himself. Turned out he was a smart kid who just was not interested in what was being taught. I didn’t understand why my parents did not like him, but when he started to come to my house he always whistled instead of knocking on the door. Much to the irritation of my dad. Yet my mom did feed him when he looked hungry. That was just what people did in those days.

We started to go steady that year and had many laughs and lots of fun as teenagers finding ourselves. At thirteen, on my backstairs, he asked me to marry him, which we thought was funny at the time. He went off to a different high school than me but we continued going together. He had his interests, wrestling at Western Sports Center and I had mine, ice skating at the old Forum, and yet we began to grow as a couple.

When I reached seventeen we broke up, he going his way and me mine. We still saw each other although he was seeing another girl and I was seeing another guy. Even during that year we were never far from each other’s thoughts.

Then my sister was about to be married. He was always her favourite and believed he was meant for me. She made sure she asked him to be in her wedding party as I was her bridesmaid. That night we got back together for good.

This month we will celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Fifty years flashes past as fifty seconds.

              I am blessed to have met you at such a young age and to have had my destiny determined then.

Our spirits are linked inexorably.

We are truly soul mates.

 If I am able to follow you to Heaven, where you will surely go,

my wish would be to relive with you, each of the seconds in those fifty years as a complete day together.

That would be my Heaven.

Happy anniversary,  Jane,  you are my gold.

 I love you always,  Bob