My Jonathan turns 30 today. I have thought of a thousand gooey, sticky, lovey-dovey things I could write here, but he's 30 now. He's entered a new era of his life. While I can (and will) continue to be his silly, sugar-sweet "wifey" at home, in public and in print I'll refrain. This time. ;-)
Though he's now 30, Jonathan definitely isn't "old." He bounds around our house and the climbing gym and Yosemite and Disneyland like a tousel-headed kid on a sugar high! He continues to love his toys, though they become increasingly expensive (and colorful) with every passing year. His sense of adventure is enhanced with each trip we plan and complete.
My Jonathan continues to be my playmate, my Peter Pan, my complement, my favorite human being. (LEFT: An example of his perpetual boyhood take on life... the way he envisioned our loft as the perfect place to tie an anchor and use his new climbing rope last year. I shudder to think what he wants to do now that he has nuts, cams, and quickdraws!)
Today, we love fervently... often without regard for time or priorities, constantly looking for new games to play. But when a moment comes that requires the stability of a lifelong love, we have that, too. That and then some.
The following lyrics, penned by John Lennon, have always made me think of my sweet husband:
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love
Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end
Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love
I recently heard this song again as sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter, one of my favorite country singers. Jonathan loathes country music, so I opted to present this as though John Lennon was the genius behind these lyrics. But the original inspiration was a poem by Robert Browning entitled Rabbi ben Ezra . Browning wrote his poem in the 1800s as a tribute to Abraham ibn Ezra, a famous 12th century poet and mathematician. Such is the way all poetry affects all poetry.
In the 1100s, a Jewish scholar and Philosopher waxed lyrical about God, Truth, Science and Nature.
In 1864, a Victorian poet considered Life from the vantage point of age, concluding that wisdom and perspective are worth the hard reality of aging.
In the 1970s, the most famous of British musicians wrote a song about lifelong love.
In the 1990s, a husky-voiced, country musician adapted the song for her own genre.
And in 2009, a girl behind a red door offers a blog entry about that song in honor of her husband of almost 5 years.
When I was a child, I loved like a child. I was fickle and easily swayed by a broad shoulder, a chin cleft, a rogue lock of raven hair, a deep bass voice, a sunset behind a man in the saddle, a razor wit, an impassioned plea for humankind.
Later, I realized that the drama and danger of fictional loves was not something to be desired. And that's precisely when I met a man who summed up all I'd ever wanted and needed in one strong, sound, promising package. He is kindest, smartest, most intriguing; he is the best of men.
Happy Birthday, Jonathan!