Here is Strawberry. She's standing beside our six foot fence.
Our neighbour is growing some massive weeds. At first looking at the weeds peek over our fence would get me all riled up but now that they are this tall, I'm in awe.
The next time our neighbour is barbequing I want to commend him on his weed growing skills. Dude those weeds rule.
Ok, I might still be slightly annoyed.
I was on edge.
She had her bathing suit on and it was already sweltering. She was exceedingly quiet as she sat in the backseat probably daydreaming about a day at the beach. I know that I would prefer the sand in my toes with the scent of sunscreen heavy in the air.
That was not meant to be. I was going to spend another day cooped up with the air conditioner blasting beside me. If I were lucky I wouldn’t have to turn my space heater on.
At my desk I took a sip of my coffee and my thoughts drifted back to her.
I should have opened the window just a crack. The car was only a half a block away in the hot garage. At least it was out of direct sunlight.
I imagined an innocent bystander walking by. They might glance in and rush to call the authorities. The humidex made the 31 degrees Celsius high feel more like a scorching 40!
Almost ten hours had passed. I emerged out of the office and immediately felt a blast of warm air wash over me. I was thankful that the summer sun had not yet set even though I had worked late. Deadlines loom over me and I can see my vacation days verging on the horizon.
My steps were quick as I approached her waiting patiently in the car. I raced down two flights to find her in the backseat. She looked so small in the car seat that is way too big for her.
I am three days fashionably late. It was then, at the cottage that I hugged you and wished you a happy anniversary. I went on to tease you for my present knowing very well that we had not purchased each other gifts.
With your quick wit you promised that you were going to buy me a coffee. You know the way into my heart is less than two dollars. You did not let me off the hook and wondered what you would get in return. I promised you this.
“We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.”
– William Somerset Maugham
You are but a hint of the twenty three year old boy that I boldly walked up to and introduced myself to fifteen years ago. I still hear it in your laughter. I catch it in your bright smile and that mischievous spark in your eye.
You are barely the same man that I joined at the end of the aisle when I wore the white dress and made big promises to only six years ago.
It’s hard to say if it was marriage or having children that changed our relationship because we waited nine years before either. The thing that surprises me most is that I am still discovering you.
The happy chance is that six years ago there was one girl professing her love to you and now there are three.
