FIRST NIGHT

She wore a dress 

of “Everglaze” cotton that night,   

white with a discreet pattern 

of tiny green roses.

I remember it still.

We walked along the beach

and across the causeway  

to a rocky island

where we sat

above the pounding waves

of the Southern Ocean.

 We were volunteers

at a children’s summer vacation program

and really knew nothing

about each other,

so we just sat and talked,

sharing our two

quite different pasts;

no touching or cuddling.

just talk.

At the end of the program I inquired

“Would you like to meet again?” 

and she agreed –

so here we are,

sixty one years later;

two lives so richly shared,

through so many experiences,

and in so many places;

so many memories,

so many friends

and our own wonderful family.

How fortunate we have been.