With applause, pictures, hugs, and blog post of course!

(Posted by Gayle)

They weren’t a May December couple.  In fact, my guess is they were more likely an April/April couple.  But one thing was clear – they were truly, madly, deeply in love.  She was in shock and couldn’t stop crying.  It was just the two of them and about 20 or so strangers.  For a moment we got to share in their love and will be telling their story for a long time to come.  And every time I tell their story, I will send a wish and prayer into the heavens for their happiness and devotion to each other to continue and to grow.

The River Walk in San Antonio, Texas was decked in its full Christmas splendor.  We had just finished a lovely meal with a dear friend of ours.  Her relationship of nine years had sadly come to end a few weeks earlier.  We didn’t talk much about her loss during dinner, instead we enjoyed each others’ company, good food, fine wine, and the beauty of the surroundings.  We left the restaurant and wandered down the river walk a bit before getting ready to head back to the car.

We had just come down a flight of stairs from crossing over the river when we saw a man get down on one knee in front of someone in dark clothing.  There was a crowd gathering.  It took a moment for it all sink in.  He was proposing to the figure who stood before him.  Her image came into focus.  Her shock and tears were evident.  She wasn’t prepared for the ring he had just slipped on her finger.  We looked around the crowd for their friends and soon realized the couple was alone – but not really.  The crowd began to cheer, pictures were being snapped, and our friend was moved and joyful too.  She snapped pictures of them with her phone’s camera.  An email address was obtained, the ring was displayed, the engaged couple were both in the military.  She never stopped crying.  He never stopped grinning.  The ring was beautiful and so were they.  Their love bursting with life.  Everyone could feel the sparks.

And then we began to disperse.  The moment touched me on many levels.  I remembered for a moment shopping for my wedding ring with Ron.  Our wasn’t a spontaneous moment on a beautifully lit river, but it was just ours and it was just as meaningful.  Our friend’s reaction was touching.  Her heart might have been hurting, but she wasn’t jaded or bitter.  I’ve know others who would have taken the moment as a personal attack from the universe and would have responded like an injured victim.  She was thrilled for them and her enthusiasm was contagious.

Ron and I started out like champagne’s bubbles 22 years ago.  Now we are an elegant vintage wine.   I could see each of our places in the circle of life.  Ron and I represent the possibility and devotion of a long term future, the newly engaged couple depict the hope and joy found in new beginnings, and our friend showed that healing can happen when endings are met with surrender and compassion.

…beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.

From the movie Hope Floats

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.
– e. e. cummings

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