twenty-two

i'm supposed to be sleeping since i have to go to work this evening. i'm on what we call the graveyard shift. work begins at 1:00 am but i need to leave home at about 11 pm.  so i need to sleep in the daytime to prepare myself.

but i can't find sleep.  the wife is away at work. we'll not be able to see each other much this week and the coming week.  she just texted  via her mobile phone she's not feeling fine. she said she's thinking she might have caught the flu.  tired, she said.  yet, she can't rest much. she's with her bosses. i told her to take it easy. we're not getting younger.  hope she gets better soon as possible.

last november 17, we marked our twenty-two years of being together.  i realized time has really flown so fast.  these years were of course with its ups and downs.  but. we managed it and we hope to manage it for the ensuing years.  i know, my simple living did not grant her any substantial things --  not a beautiful house; not a fat bank account; there was a second-hand car that we  were able to enjoy for a while but was not able to claim back from the car repair shop when it broke down.

i'd like to thank her for sticking it out with me.  for appreciating my crude music. my attempt at poetry.  my laziness.  my not being able to become rich. my not keeping up with the Joneses.

for this 22nd year of bearing with me, i'd like to share with her this beautiful song.  this is from one of my favorite guitarists of all time, wes montgomery.  wes entitled it i've grown accustomed to her face.

wes' notes brought tears to my eyes.  what i cannot say in words, wes' notes is saying for me ...

thank you for being with me ...