Tuesday, June 11, 2013

#159. or, Fireflies (for my wife)

   I've seen pictures, from other parts of the world, where the fireflies dance in the trees like a million stars in the skies. That doesn't really happen here. In fact, I'd bet, that there's a fair percentage of the population in our neck of the woods, that aren't even aware that we have fireflies. But we do. I've seen them.

  I've lived in pretty much the exact same spot for the entirety of my life, certainly for the part that I can readily recall to memory. For most of that time, I had never seen an actual firefly. The first time that I ever saw one, was 19 years ago, this past week.

  That's important, because today is the anniversary of the day that my wife and I were married, 19 years ago.

  I don't recall all of the details of that day the same way that my sweet wife does. I remember being a wee bit stressed. I remember the outdoor ceremony we had, and the bee that kept buzzing around us and wondering if my wife, who wasn't quite my wife just then, was going to bolt, from her terrible fear of bees. I remember drinking a bit and being awesome at the hula hoop game that our DJ sprang on us at some point during the evening. And now that I think about it, I probably recreated some of those awesome hula hoop moves, later that night, after my wife and I stole away for the balance of the night that we had to ourselves. But that's not really where I intended for this story to steer itself.

  What I was trying to get at, was that my wife did the greatest majority of the planning and putting into action of our day, 19 years ago. I was younger and a working fool, and when I look back on it now, I wish that I had taken the time to help her out with all that she had on her plate. Because over the last 19 years, the things that I remember most, are the things we've done together, as the partners that we were meant to be.

  But I have this memory, of a time, the week before this day, 19 years ago. When I'd come home from seeding or working with cattle, and my wife was exhausted from the stress of planning a wedding that was just days away. I remember that her and I went for a walk outside one of those evenings, and for the very first time in my life, while we walked in the dark holding hands, I saw fireflies. Not so many that they  lit up the forest, but a handful, dancing here and there, maybe at most three at a time, but still random enough that it surprised you when you would catch another set dancing in a different part of the woods. It was magical.

  So, every year now, when our anniversary rolls around I try to watch for them. They're not always there. In fact, they're rarely there. But a couple days ago, I came home from seeding, and as I walked up to the house as the night fell, I spotted them dancing in the trees behind our house.

  I've seen nights, when I'm in a field away from any outside lights, and the stars fill the sky so thickly you'd think you could reach up and stir them with your fingers. I've been on a plane in the middle of the night, and looked down to the Earth out of the window and seen lights of houses and towns twinkling like stars, and you would swear that you were looking up instead of down. But my favorite is without a doubt, sitting on the steps of our deck with my wife beside me, like we did a few days ago, watching a hand full of fireflies dance in the trees like stars.

  Because I know, the dance they do is for us.

  ................Happy anniversary baby.


This week I'm linking my post with the Yeah Write Weekend  Moonshine grid, as well as the Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom Blog hop. Follow the links to catch up on a bunch of other fine peoples blog posts!  :) 


42 comments:

  1. That's just beautiful. :)

    Congratulations on many happy years, and best wishes for many, many more.

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  2. This was an absolutely wonderful post an a joy to read. Happy Anniversary to you both. May your future be illuminated by the bright glow of love...and fire flies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stephen,

      I suspect we'll have a good number of firefly viewing years to come.

      Delete
  3. What a wonderful memory! Your wife is very lucky!

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    1. Thanks Jules,

      You know, I keep trying to tell her how lucky she is. ;) (just kidding)

      Delete
  4. Great post. It hit me right in my feeling things place. And I too love fireflies. One of best parts of summer for me, really.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Holly,

      Thanks! I was aiming for the feeling things place. :)

      Delete
  5. *sniff*... Aww.. that's so sweet! :)

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  6. This is sweet. We just celebrated 32 years. Congratulations to you both!

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    Replies
    1. Hey McGuffy Ann,

      32 years is quite an achievement! Great job and congratulations to you guys.

      Delete
  7. Shit dude. You just made me cry.

    Happy anniversary.

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    1. Hey Six,

      Thanks......you big softie.

      Delete
  8. Dear friend,

    If that doesn't make her swoon, I don't know what could. Absolutely the most beautiful anniversary sentiment.

    Happy anniversary!

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    Replies
    1. Hello, my friend!

      I don't suspect, I'm swoon worthy, all that often.

      Thanks, we're waiting for the weekend to actually go out and do our celebrating. Looking forward to that. :)

      Delete
  9. Aw, that is so sweet! Happy anniversary! And fireflies are awesome, I've only seen them maybe twice in my lifetime. Could be because I don't look for them anymore, or maybe they're not around where I live nowadays. Still, that story brought a tear to my eye - or maybe it's just a bug flown into it :/. No fireflies though.

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    1. Hi Annika,

      It's funny, I always seem to be too busy to stop and look for them as well. It's just this time of year and the circumstance that makes me stop once a year to see if they're there.

      It was probably a bug :)

      Delete
  10. Magical! Last night I dreamed about a sky so filled with stars that your description reminded me of. I live in the city and rarely see more than 10 stars in the sky. But a few times a year, on warm summer nights, our block will fill up with fireflies, and hubby and I will look out the window and enjoy the show.

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    Replies
    1. I think that would be so cool, to see the night lit up with fireflies. I'm not sure I could stay inside if that was going on out my window.

      Plus, I think I might like try to catch a few in a jar and try to read by them like you always see in pictures. Not sure if that really works though. :)

      Delete
  11. Ken, you romantic sod. You always have the right words, huh?

    Happy anniversary, dude! May there always be fireflies in the air and butterflies in the stomach. Or something. You could have probably said it better.

    Also, thanks for making me feel like an asshole by not helping out enough with the upcoming wedding (less than 2 months left!) ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Daniel,

      I don't always have the right words. My first draft was something like:

      Roses are red
      Violets are Blue
      Happy anniversary!
      Show me your boobs!

      I think the 2nd draft worked out a little better.

      About the asshole thing....always glad to do my part.(sorry) You still have 2 months, plenty of time to jump into that nightmare of wedding planning!

      Delete
    2. Ha, a magical first draft indeed!

      And yeah, there's enough to do for wedding planning, although we're not going over the top with anything.

      Delete
  12. 19 years! NICE! Congratulations and Happy Anniversary. This was such a sweet post and yeah, there really is something so magical about fireflies. We don't have them here in the Utah desert but when I lived back East we'd see them and I'd always be amazed.
    Also, your comment about hula-hooping your wife cracked me up.

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    Replies
    1. Hi VV,

      I had no idea that they existed here until I saw them. You should take some time to look for them, you might be surprised what you find? :)

      I'm not the exuberant hula-hooper I used to be, back in the day. But I still like to get my old hips on a swivel, every now and then. :)

      Delete
  13. What a sweet post! Happy anniversary to you both! May there be many, many more!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I'm sure there will be. :)

      Delete
  14. Ken, this is a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your sweet memories with us. It sounds like you two have a special relationship. Happy Anniversary!

    Karen

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    1. Thank you Karen.

      I like to think it is, although I suspect it's pretty much the same as any other successful relationship. But it's nice to know we're getting something right. :)

      Delete
  15. Aw, Happy Anniversary! I didn't see fireflies until I was 22. There aren't any in CA. I was (and still am) so amazed by them! I haven't seen any yet this year though - it's been kind of a weird colder June.

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    1. Thank you!

      I really need to look at a map of the area of the world occupied by fireflies. I have this suspicion, they're in more places than people suspect. Maybe in just more limited numbers. I was in my mid 20's when I first seen them here as well.

      .......and yes, they are amazing! :)

      Delete
  16. Happy Anniversary! I love this post ... especially this line "the stars fill the sky so thickly you'd think you could reach up and stir them with your fingers" ... took me right back to the nights I used to lay out on the lawn on our farm and look up in the sky with wonder. Thank you for sharing your memories :)

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    1. Hi Cheryl,

      Sometimes I wonder, just how many people live in the city, who have never laid on the grass in the dark of the night and had that experience? When the stars stop being spots of light and start being swirls of glowing soup, with each star connected to the next by it's own light.

      Thanks for stopping by. :)

      Delete
  17. Ken Happy Anniversary...you and your wife sound happy...what a lovely post. Thanks

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  18. This is one of my more favorite posts of yours. The language is so lovely, and of course the lovey dovey stuff melts my heart :)

    I haven't seen fireflies in forever, you have to be in a much more rural area than where I live. But if I had a story like yours, I would make it a point to try to find them.

    Happy Anniversary to a wonderful couple :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Kianwi,

      I'm not sure I could live in town or the city for an extended amount of time. I mean I could if I had to, but I'm sure there are things that I take for granted about living where I am, that I would find myself missing if they all went away.

      Delete
  19. This was so sweet, yet not saccharine. I especially liked how you wrote about the joy of doing things together with your wife.
    Congratulations on 19 years and best wishes for many more years to come.

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  20. Beautiful, Ken. :) No wonder you don't want to outsource anything but work. Happy anniversary.

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    1. Hey Reanna,

      I'm more than happy to do all of the fun stuff all by myself. :)

      Delete
  21. Aw, this is the sweetest damn thing I've heard all month. Happy Anniversary Ken and Mrs. Inatractor! May you have many, many more together!

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    1. Thank you Becky!

      I'm certain there will be many more to come! :)

      Delete