Alex, That I Loved

Serious

Winter 1995

I found you waiting for me on the 400 year old terra cotta steps of the old town’s fortress walls. You had been turned away by my host family, who had accused you of stealing a necklace. The snow covered the cobblestones when I returned through the courtyard, having spent my day with friends in the mountains.

I erred when I informed my professor that I learned Romanian so quickly because of its Latin roots. Yours is a Romance language, and I was in need of someone to understand. The greatest teacher of language is loneliness. Without a lesson, you learned my words and I spoke yours.

Fly across years and fields and oceans and words, across cityscapes, dreams and children. Wake up next to me for a third of your life. Pass another ordinary day and listen:

I still see you waiting at the top of the steps;
I still feel the snow upon the stones;
You stole something more precious than jewels on that day;
But you repaid the debt upon my return.

I know it's not your holiday, but Happy Valentine's, Lexie

And not so serious

In writing my Valentine's card today you spelled Happy with two a's. And in a perfect Ingmar from Ikea accent I informed the world that my wife loves me more than the annual two-day sale. And you rolled your eyes knowing I had my blog entry for the day. And you laughed, and I've heard that laugh a thousand thousand times, and I give a great big friendly middle finger to that speech instructor who assures me that the most pleasing sound in the world is a person's own voice. Because it's not. It's your laugh, and it causes me much silliness and consternation, like the kid who keeps telling the same joke when someone giggles long after the humor has been spent. I am that kid on many an occasion such as this, but you'll forgive me because it's Valentine's Day and you love me and I'm going to make you laugh until you're sick of it.

And completely unrelated

On Friday, the President came to our meeting unannounced and asked me why I thought morale at the college is so low. And with a mouth half-full with pizza I answered, 'Not enough nudity?'

You may soon be seeing quite a bit more of me, sweetie.