a man in love

my dad is a man in love.
he has been for over 60 years.

don't get me wrong,
it's not been a fairy-tale romance.
(they are human)
it's been and it is a committed life.
committed to loving, serving,
working hard, staying faithful,
raising kids, playing, laughing,
crying and being there 
"in sickness and in health." 

i remember their sweet embraces
as well as their not-so-sweet 'discussions'.

i know i've been blessed to be raised by
God loving parents,
by hard working parents,
fun-loving parents.


and now, for the past 4 years especially,
i've witnessed more love.
my poppa learned to cook,
do laundry, get better at house keeping,
grocery shopping. he has helped
mom shower, dress, and yes,
even basic bathroom needs. 
and he started at the young age of 78.
LOVE. the kind of committment
it takes to make a life together.


no wonder he wanted to keep her at home
as long as possible. he cried when we moved
her to the nursing home. 
(me too)
yet he goes in faithfully twice a day.
drives in the 10 miles one way to 
see the love of his life. 


(interesting because growing up
we were limited to the number of times
we could go to town.
once a week besides on sunday,
in the summer was it.) 


yesterday daddy called me
at 8:05 a.m.
"did i wake u?"
"no, i was up."
"okay, were you planning on coming
over here today to put up the christmas tree?"
" if we could get there."
"well you can't. there's still too much snow."
"okay."

" i'm going in to see maureen"


WHAT? 

it's this man in love.
we cannot possibly get to his farm due 
to snow, mud, etc.
but he can drive to town to see momma.


i just had to chuckle.


i called him last night.
"dad, how were the roads?"
"not good."
"but u made it in to see mom okay?"
" yes, two times."


he's still a man in love.