photo credit
I am reposting this sweet story. I posted it a year ago for a great Valentines day love story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
SHMILY
Written by Laura Jeanne Allen
My Grandfather and Grandmother were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word "shmily"in a surprise place for the other to find. They took turns leaving "shmily" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more.
They dragged "shmily" with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers to await whoever was preparing the next meal. They smeared it in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio where they always had warm, homemade pudding with blue food coloring.
"Shmily" was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. At one point, my Grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper to leave"shmily" on the very last sheet.
There was no end to the places "shmily" would pop up. Little notes with "shmily" scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows.
"Shmily" was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. This mysterious word was as much a part of their house as the furniture.
It took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my grandparents' game. Skepticism had kept some of them from believing in true love-one that is pure and enduring. However, I never doubted my grandparents' relationship. They had love down pat. It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of life. Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate affection which not everyone is lucky to experience.
Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. They finished each other's sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle and word jumble.
My Grandmother whispered to one of her friends about how cute my Grandfather was, how handsome and old he had grown to be. She claimed that she really knew "how to pick 'em." Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks, marveling at their blessings:a wonderful family, good fortune, and each other.
But there was a dark cloud in the couples' life: my Grandmother had breast cancer. The disease had first appeared ten years earlier. As always, my Grandfather was with her every step of the way. He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was too sick to go outside.
Now the cancer was again attacking her body. With the help of a cane and my Grandfather's steady hand, they went to church every morning. But my Grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally,she could not leave the house anymore. For a while, my Grandfather would go to church alone, praying to God to watch over my Grandmother.
Then one day, what everyone dreaded finally happened. My Grandmother was gone.
"Shmily." It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my Grandmother's funeral bouquet. As the crowd thinned and the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time.
My Grandfather stepped up to my Grandmother's casket and, taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her.
Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty lullaby.
Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment. I knew that, although I couldn't begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty.
S-h-m-i-l-y:See How Much I Love You.
Here we are a year later....my what a difference a year makes! This past year has seen many changes. Building our lake house,our daughter graduating from high school, seeing another daughter become engaged, our son graduating from UGA...moving away only to move back home and gallbladder surgery....whew what a year and I haven't shared everything!
Because of my husbands job, many weeks out of the year I am left alone to manage our house and kids. It's only by the grace of God that I am even sane. Living in a household with 11 people ...can I just say NO privacy! Finding ways to connect with my husband can be a difficult task but a necessary one. One day our children will be grown and on their own...well maybe! I would shudder to think waking up one day and not even know the old guy next to me.
I have always loved watching old couples hold hands. When we lived in Florida I was in hand holding heaven.There is just something so childlike but yet passionate at the same time with this connection of love. So there is one thing I made my husband promise me...That he would always hold my hand!
When I came across this story about this old couple and the message of SHMILY written on little places throughout their house...I thought of that promise my husband made to me. It's the little ways we find to connect that matter!
Seasons come and seasons go but my love for my husband will always remain strong as long as we are always holding hands!
I love you Kelley and Yes....I will be your valentine!
