laundry by quarters and dishes by hand

In our early years we did laundry by quarters and dishes by hand, together. Yes, together. We have been together almost twenty-three years now, married for twenty to the day.

Two days ago I arose at 5 to pray. You were on my heart and lips. Though I knelt alone, I was not alone. Our Father was with us and you were asleep in our room. I lifted you up to God and prayed joy over you for you have given me joy. After praying, I opened the curtains to greet the light. We have old windows now and through the unbroken panes I saw the moon at dawn, full and pale, right in view. It took my breath away. I did not expect to see your face in the sky.

I turned, walked over the creaky floors to our room and kissed you gently awake, thankful.

Some time ago, a young co-worker leered at a woman passing by. He asked me: if I could have any woman at our store, which one would I have.

I replied that I was married.

He said that didn’t matter.

I said it did.

He asked me how many women had I had in my life…

You are the only one for me, darling. I would not have it any other way.

A little over a month ago we moved in to a new apartment. We do laundry by quarters and dishes by hand again. And I would not have it any other way--because it means we’re together still, like our new old windows, unbroken.