We spent most of Saturday celebrating my father-in-laws 77th birthday. He was in high spirits when we arrived. There was a certain happiness about him that I hadn’t seen in over four years; maybe closer to seven, that’s when my mother-in-law found out she had cancer.
He was very much like the man I met for the first time so many years ago. Sparkling blue eyes, slightly off-color but never inappropriate jokes, and a good deal of charm. It made me feel good to see him so happy.
I quickly found out he had called it quits the woman he had been dating for about year. I was thrilled. No matter how hard I tried, and I tried hard, I just couldn’t seem to like her. It took me a little while longer to find out he was seeing someone new. He showed me the roses she had sent him and the package of thoughtful gifts she had mailed. Then he showed me her picture.
“She looks very nice,” I said. Maybe not the most eloquent response, but he agreed wholeheartedly.
I couldn’t help but laugh when we left for dinner. He told everyone I was riding up front because he was growing accustomed to going to dinner with a beautiful woman. I sat next to him in the car and he sang a love song about not putting my cheek too close to his. He wasn’t singing to me…
After a good dinner and some birthday cake we drove home. I mentioned to my husband that he really seemed to like this new “lady friend”
My husband was quiet for a few minutes before he agreed.
“That’s OK?” I asked. It was just as much a statement as a question.
“Yeah, it is OK. He seems happy. This time, I don’t feel like he’s trying to find a replacement for mom.”
We held hands in silence as we drove through the part of Virginia locals call horse country and back to our side of the river. There was a slight smile on our face; it was mocking the small tears forming in the corner of our eyes. It seems no matter how complicated the circumstance, when you spend the day looking into a face of a man falling in love, you can’t help but smile. That gives me great deal of comfort.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Very nice blog. I love the one about your father-in-law. Yep, it’s no doubt hard on your husband, but life must go on, and a man in love is a happier person. So your hubby will, I think, come to accept her.
MH
July 25th, 2007 at 10:09 am
MH - Thank You. I think he will accept her as well. He wants his dad to be happy. She’s seems to be doing the job. It was so nice to see him like that again.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Wow, me too — great post.
Mike
July 26th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Hi Mike,
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you’re smiling.