2 Decades

I'm approaching the 20th anniversary of landing my bride. It's been a huge adventure and we're tremendously blessed.

In the day-in, day-out rush of life, we're like lots of couples. We get stressed, we miscommunicate, we put each other in boxes, we argue. During a recent argument--with my stubbornness drifting in--I was melted by watching her sew a button on a sweater of Abby's. I've never seen her sewing buttons or anything else. It took me seeing Andrea doing something simple but different to get me to see her all over again. So, as we approach April 22nd, I wrote her a quick poem to express my love. Here it is, for all to share:

The Button Girl

She measures, she cuts, then ties the thread,
eyes it up with a cock of her head.
She pulls twice through, then three and four,
sticking her tongue out (which I always adore).

Her fingers are sure and the job's quickly done--
this sweater of Abby's can now be put on.
The impatient girl's smile dissolves all her sorrow
as the filly pronounces, "I'll wear it tomorrow!!"

When she was as young, she sewed many'a pocket--
not a seam or a blouse or a dress made her docket.
Grown now, branched out, she'll sew a button or a glove,
but what she's really doing is sewing her love.

And I watch my bride as she finishes the sweater...
I'm reminded again I could never do better
Than the bride of my youth who has captured my heart--
the tomboy with leashed toad, she's a true work of art.

She's beauty embodied, both outside and in
with strength and a sense of adventure within;
I've been blessed with her for 2 decades before
and I'm glad to look forward to 5 decades more.

To help with context, Andrea was known as a young girl to only sew pockets. No other sewing projects were considered or executed. She just loved sewing 2 pieces of fabric together along 3 sides to form a pocket, quite unattached from anything. Unmoored pockets...someone could make a million bucks I bet. She was also known for catching toads and taking them for walks on leashes...she was terribly allergic to all traditional pets.


With love to my rough and tumble girl...