The old man sat on the edge of the bed. I watched him with utmost preciseness tear off exactly the right amount of tape. He knew the routine well. Five pieces of tape, criss-crossed over each other in the shape of an asterisk would cover her incision perfectly.
His eyes were filled with love. Love for this woman he met over fifty years ago. A woman he had spent most of his life with.
Fifty years ago, vows were said.
At that time, he probably wasn’t paying much attention to the words. He repeated the words “to love and to cherish”. He repeated the words “in sickness and in health”. And he repeated the words “‘til death do us part”. Fifty years ago they were likely just words.
It would take a lifetime to bring true meaning to them.
A lifetime learning to truly care about this other person.
Caring through sharing life’s experiences – the happy times, the sad times, and even the angry times.
As he placed the last piece of tape over the incision she muttered something he couldn’t understand. To satisfy her inquisitiveness, he calmly agreed with her.
Fifty years ago, vows were said. Today they have true meaning.
1 year ago
