Thanksgiving

He ran into her seemingly by chance. How many stories have you heard about how randomly couples ended up back in the day. Nowadays, it doesn't seem that way. There are dating sites designed for all kinds. Put in what you are looking for, and you will be matched up with your ideal partner. The problem with that is the same as tv dinners vs. home cooked meals. You know exactly what you will get from the frozen package. Portion size, calorie count just the way you selected with the unsurprising bland taste of something created to last past its own expiration date. A home cooked meal on the other hand, never turns out the same. Plus you have the liberty to add or subtract whatever you want. You can undercook it or burn it. There's usually a mess to clean up with it. But it's all yours to make. The entire experience is yours to savor from beginning to end. How it turns out all depends on how much care you take to give it all your best. Not being cheap about the ingredients nor being lazy about the time and effort you put into its creation. So here he was, holding her in his arms one more time. He couldn't let the opportunity pass. He knew there would not be another chance to hold her the way he did when she still loved him. He was grateful and regretful for the moment. Grateful that there was enough peace between them that they both attended the wedding of their only child. Regretful because he knew that she would be in another's arms as soon as the dance would end. It was a funny thing that everyone who knew them, knew that he never stopped loving her. Funnier still that he couldn't admit it to himself that he never found anyone else who held his heart the way she did. She had something on him only his soul remembered. He drew in a slow breath, inhaling her scent. Taking him on a fast forward reel of stored memories in his mind. The short dance unleashed every moment of gone-by opportunities that caused their marriage to fall apart. Every choice he made, every chance he didn't take advantage of, now so obviously highlighted as he recalled their life. He didn't understand then that the most important ingredient to nourish love is gratitude. Of course he fully understood that now. It was one of the reasons that there was peace between them. The song ended. Reluctantly he released his hold on her. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Thank you for the dance" she said. She looked as beautiful as the day they met. His voice caught in his throat as he was trying to reply. She started to walk away when he was finally able to say "no..thank you..". She turned around, still with that same smile on her face and simply nodded. Indicating by that simple gesture that she appreciated his delayed gratitude. ~•~•~•~•~•~• a beautiful milieu Image Thomas Campoy https://www.instagram.com/thomas_campoy/