Last night we went to one of the Mary’s Favorites and for
once we were quiet, contemplating the twists and turns our lives have taken and
appreciating how lucky we are to have each other.
The food was brilliant and she said the focaccia was
fabulous but none of that mattered. What did matter was that we were there,
together, on what was a very difficult day for the both of us, for very
different reasons.
When I met The Mary many, many years ago there was an
instant attraction. She was attracted to
my fabulously sunny disposition and my bright, ginger hair. For my part I was fascinated by her stay-press
trousers and V-neck, Pringle jumpers.
Before I knew it I was wearing sharply pressed, beige
trousers and she was dying her hair auburn. Well, not exactly but we have been inseparable
since that first day when I gave her some amount of cheek. My upbringing taught me to be sharp, cheeky
and stand offish at first then, if people couldn’t tolerate that; there was no
way they could handle me in any other capacity.
I know I’m hard work!
Forty odd years later we buy the same polo neck jumpers; I
still talk shite and The Mary listens intently, with a slight air of distain
whilst nodding with a hint of disinterest. She’s going through a very tough time at the
moment and I attempt to make her laugh by sprinkling my very annoying sparkle all
over her. I overwhelm her with talk of
hair, make-up and clothes using my distraction techniques in an attempt to
absorb some of her pain.
I’ve met someone very special and I tell her stories about
him, sometimes, well most of the time, I embellish my tales with romantic
interludes that, do, or do not, happen and she’s so happy for me. With everything else she has to deal with she
makes time for me. I honestly don’t know
how she copes with my nonsense, never mind my incessant talking and habit of
exaggerating every detail of the boloney I natter about.
I had one of the best meals I've had for a while this week and it was made by none other than The Mary. Even though she had 4 children to look after and had been up and down visiting at the Royal she still made a delicious dinner for me and another friend Jessie. My pal is a truly amazing woman and I am so proud to call her my friend!
They say a soulmate is a person who has a lock that fits our
key and a someone we feel safe enough with to let them walk through the door, knowing
we are safe, whatever the situation.
With this person we can be true to who we are, be completely honest and
be loved no matter what else is going on around us.
I have this with The Mary and ours’ is a true, story of love
that’s survived romance, tragedy and unbearable heartbreak on both sides but
through all of this we are unconditionally committed to each other.
Always have been…
Always will be!
Mx
