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Canitreallybesixty-twoyearsagothatIfirstsawyou
Itistrulyalifetime，Iknow.ButasIgazeintoyoureyesnow，itseemslikeonlyyesterdaythatIfirstsawyou，inthatsmallcaféinHanoverSquare.
FromthemomentIsawyousmile，asyouopenedthedoorforthatyoungmotherandhernewbornbaby.Iknew.IknewthatIwantedtosharetherestofmylifewithyou.
IstillthinkofhowfoolishImusthavelooked，asIgazedatyou，thatfirsttime.Irememberwatchingyouintently，asyoutookoffyourhatandlooselyshookyourshortdarkhairwithyourfingers.Ifeltmyselfbecomingimmersedinyoureverydetail，asyouplacedyourhatonthetableandcuppedyourhandsaroundthehotcupoftea，gentlyblowingthesteamawaywithyourpoutedlips.
Fromthatmoment，everythingseemedtomakeperfectsensetome.Thepeopleinthecaféandthebusystreetoutsidealldisappearedintoahazyblur.AllIcouldseewasyou.
AllthroughmylifeIhaverelivedthatveryfirstday.Many，manytimesIhavesatandthoughtaboutthatthefirstday，andhowforafewfleetingmomentsIamthere，feelingagainwhatisliketoknowtruelovefortheveryfirsttime.ItpleasesmethatIcanstillhavethosefeelingsnowafterallthoseyears，andIknowIwillalwayshavethemtocomfortme.
NotevenasIshookandtrembleduncontrollablyinthetrenches，didIforgetyourface.Iwouldsithuddledintothewetmud，terrified，asthehailsofbulletsandmortarscrasheddownaroundme.Iwouldclutchmyrifletightlytomyheart，andthinkagainofthatveryfirstdaywemet.Iwouldcryoutinfear，asthenoiseofwarbeatdownaroundme.But，asIthoughtofyouandsawyousmilingbackatme，everythingaroundmewouldbebecomesilent，andIwouldbewithyouagainforafewpreciousmoments，farfromthedeathanddestruction.ItwouldnotbeuntilIopenedmyeyesonceagain，thatIwouldseeandhearthecarnageofthewararoundme.
Icannottellyouhowstrongmyloveforyouwasbackthen，whenIreturnedtoyouonleaveintheSeptember，feelingbattered，bruisedandfragile.WeheldeachothersotightIthoughtwewouldburst.IaskedyoutomarrymetheverysamedayandIwhoopedwithjoywhenyoulookeddeepintomyeyesandsaid“yes“tobeingmybride.
I“mlookingatourweddingphotonow，theoneonourdressingtable，nexttoyourjewellerybox.Ithinkofhowyoungandinnocentwewerebackthen.IrememberbeingonthechurchstepsgrinninglikeaCheshirecat，whenyousaidhowdashingandhandsomeIlookedinmyuniform.Thephotoisoldandfadednow，butwhenIlookatit，Ionlyseethebrightvibrantcolorsofouryouth.Icanstillremembereverydetailoftheprettyweddingdressyourmothermadeforyou，withitsfinedelicatelaceandprettypearls.IfIconcentratehardenough，Icansmellthesweetnessofyourweddingbouquetasyouhelditsoproudlyforeveryonetosee.
Irememberbeingsooverenjoyed，whenayearlater，yougentlyheldmyhandtoyourwaistandwhisperedinmyearthatweweregoingtobeafamily.
Iknowbothourchildrenloveyoudetheyareoutsidethedoornow，waiting.
DoyourememberhowIpanickedlikeamadmanwhenJonathonwasbornIcanstillpictureyoulaughingandsmilingatmenow，asIclumsilyheldhimfortheveryfirsttimeinmyarms.Iwatchedasyourlaughterfadedintotears，asIstaredathimandcriedmyowntearsofjoy.
SarahandTomarrivedthismorningwithlittleTessie.CanyourememberhowwebothhuggedeachothertightlywhenwesawourtinygranddaughterforthefirsttimeIcan“tbelieveshewillbeeightnextmonth.Iamtryingnottocry，mylove，asItellyouhowbeautifulshelookstodayinherprettydressandredshinyshoes，sheremindsmesomuchofyouthatfirstdaywemet.Shehasherhaircutshortnow，justlikeyourswasallthoseyearsago.WhenImetheratthedoorhersmilewrappedaroundmelikeawarmglove，justlikeyoursusedtodo，mydarling.
Iknowyouaretired，mydear，andImustletyougo.ButIloveyousomuchithurtstodoso.
Aswegrewoldtogether，Iwouldteaseyouthatyouhadnotchangedsincewefirstmet.Butitistrue，mydarling.Idonotseethewrinklesandgreyhairthatotherpeoplesee.WhenIlookatyounow，Ionlyseeyoursweettenderlipsandyouthfulsparklingeyesaswesatandhadoutfirstpicnicnexttothatsmallstream，andchasedeachotheraroundthatbigoldoaktree.Irememberwishingthosefirstfewdaystogetherwouldlastforever.Doyourememberhowexcitingandwonderfulthosedayswere
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