In your eyes

In your eyes, I am complete

Laura loved the song, “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. She had it on a license plate when we met and it was the first song we danced to as newlyweds.

I played this song twice for her while in a hospital.

The first being days after her double mastectomy and the doctors wanted to get her back on her feet to get her circulation going. I remember sitting in the hospital room with her and I could see she was in quite a bit of pain and was reluctant to stand up. I reached into my pocket, grabbed my phone and pressed play, I then extended my hand and asked her if I can have this dance. I carefully helped her out of her bed and held her while slowly rocking back and forth to the song.

The look in her eyes while I held her was one that I will never forget.

The second time was mere hours after learning of her prognosis and that her time on this earth was limited. I was resting my head on her bed, silently weeping while holding her hand for what was possibly going to be the last time. Studying every aspect of that hand – every contour and beautiful imperfection.  I reached into my pocket once again and played that song for her.

There was no dancing this time – just staring into each others eyes.

She loved that song and I loved how it made her feel.

However, there were a lot of things that she loved or did that I wasn’t a fan of. There were also a lot of things that I loved or did that she wasn’t a fan of as well.

I would leave my socks all over the house – it would drive her bonkers. She would throw paper products into the sink and leave them there in a wet pile – which drove me insane. She could be pushy, I could be too laid back.

We both had our idiosyncrasies and imperfections, but we accepted them. You don’t marry someone because they’re perfect. You marry them because you love every idiosyncrasy and imperfection. The next time a loved one does something that drives you crazy – pause, take a deep breath, exhale and relax.

Because that’s what makes them absolutely perfect in your eyes.