Trust and have faith that the right thing is going to come. This is not my line. Someone said it on TV a couple days ago.

I found myself staring at this thought and wondering where I was going and all the while thinking about St. Valentine’s day coming up. This by the way could allow me to wander down my own personal rabbit hole of date is dyslexia. But I will not do that. I ignored this prompt for a couple days until today.

We have a bulletin board on our hallway to the main bedroom. I made this for Cheryl a few years ago because she needed a place to hang THE CALENDAR. Since she is not home with me I did not bother to buy and hang up another calendar. I use the calendar on my desk in front of me. The board looks a little naked and I hang little tchotchkes that I find as I go through her collections of cards, photos and other memorabilia.

When I am stuck on something, a thought, a problem, a puzzle, my emotion, I leave it alone for awhile to see if my brain finds a solution. I have used this technique throughout my working career. This morning walking back to the bedroom to get dressed and start my day, I passed by a card that Cheryl had gotten for me some time ago. (I know that because her script is still readable.)

On the front: “Thank you for finding me, charming me, and loving me. Thank you for making me laugh, for being there for me in so many ways, and for always being the best friend I need.”

Inside: Dear Paul, (in here hand) “Thank you for making me feel like the luckiest person alive.” Love, Cheryl (in her hand)

These days since Cheryl has very little voice left these words mean a lot more to me than I care to admit to myself. I am not sure when she got this for me. In fact she may not have given it to me. Over the past couple years she would often write a card out and then put it away in one of her collections of stuff to take care of later. The great organizer of our family had lost her organization. When I found it a few weeks ago I put it on the bulletin board instead of the throwaway pile of 20 year old birthday cards and Christmas cards.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Cheryl. I love you! I hope that somewhere in your befuddled head you still understand that.

Carpe Diem.