Thursday, November 5, 2009

It's the Cinnamon Sticks...

Cold then. A slow gritting lorry flashed its orange globe at me as I came here. I see our parents have left a glass jar of pot-pourri with you-fir cones in it, cinnamon sticks. A dried, golden pear. I don't know what its scent is-spice, but also a musk, of some kind. Frankincense? Nor do I know very much of how love is shown, for I so rarely show it. But these are the gestures people remember, or kneel at, I know that much. It isn't the big declarations. No brass bands playing. It's cinnamon sticks, or a drawing of a sleeping dog. Or the gift of a stone moved with the sea for so many years that its rolled into a smooth round ball.
~ The Oystercatchers


Many years ago, when I was a very young woman and my own love was new, I had a friend who was in her sixties. Reenie told me a story I've never forgotten.

Her life, her love was a disappointment. She and her husband had spent years growing apart, becoming strangers. They had become roommates. The kind you are assigned in college, not the roommates we excitedly choose for ourselves. Their love had become a dim memory, made bittersweet by the sadness that always accompanies years of disappointment. After more than a year of considering, Reenie decided to divorce her husband. Decided to spend the last decades of her life alone rather than with a man who no longer loved her.

On the evening she planned to tell him, Reenie took a shower to help steady her nerves. When she opened a drawer to get out her underthings, she found a Snickers bar tucked inside. Her favorite. He remembered. He brought her one for no good reason. Just because. He left it there to surprise her. To do something nice. To make her smile. A Snickers bar.

I imagine her sinking to the floor, still damp and clad only in a towel. Eating that Snickers, savoring that sweetness. Deciding then that the sweetness of being known was worth the sadness of feeling distant. Deciding then that things could change between them. Deciding to stay.

And that's exactly what she did. She stayed. She loved. She started again.

And so did he.



Excerpt from the book Oystercatchers by Susan Fletcher. The perfect image, called Forever, is by Daria Sukhanovska.

34 comments:

TheChicGeek said...

That's a beautiful story, Relyn. There is always hope when two people both want to try. I have a friend that hated her husband and he her for 2 years!!!! They were committed to the relationship so they worked hard and found their way back after 2 long years! Now about 15 years later they are still in love and like teenagers...lol...it's wonderful to see. If you are with a good person but the spark is gone, do what you can to reignite it. It's so worth the effort!
Great picture to go with your story too :)
You made me smile today, Relyn! Thank you for that!
xxO
Kelly

spread your wings said...

what a beautiful story. one i needed to hear.

Char said...

beautiful writing

Dandy said...

I had to read that twice. The first time I rushed thru to find the ending. The second I savored. Beautiful (and so perfect for Claire De Lune)

Sue said...

That is a beautiful story, and I've been married long enough to really appreciate it. I think if you are going to remain with the same person for a lifetime...you are often starting again-and that is okay.

Jaime said...

Wonderful story.
And that excerpt from Oystercatchers...you had written about that book on goodreads and I put it on the top of my *to read* list...I can't wait to get my hands on it! Erm...once I finish the other 30 or so books on my shelves that I have yet to read.
No, I think this one will have to be moved to the front of the line...it sounds so beautiful.

Lubna said...

Today when I see my parents comfortable with each other in their old age, I sure can understand this story. Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you will put up a post everyday in November. I will drop by as often as I can.

Jeanne said...

Oh I love happy endings
Love this so much
Long live love♥

beth said...

what a great story she shared with you....soon, I'll have to share one of mine....

and here's to snickers, although I'm more of a milky way girl :)

d smith kaich jones said...

This made me cry - he showing her his love the only way he knew.

Thank you!

xoxo
Debi

Unknown said...

Hi Reln,

I liked the way you came at this post, so that we begin reading something and aren't quite sure what it is! A lovely story and true of many of us I'm sure.

Marilyn Miller said...

A Snickers bar would be all it would take. It is the little things that say I am thinking of you that mean a world of love in a relationship. Thanks for sharing that beautiful story of love rekindled.

Gayle said...

Oh, what a sweet story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Tracy said...

This is such a beautiful story, Relyn... It is never too late for love. :o) Thank you for sharing this with us... that we may know and never give up on love either. And Snicker do have a way with working some magic... ;o) Happy Weekend, my friend ((HUGS))

Debbie said...

That was lovely.

Wanda said...

Great story. Sometimes we need a Snickers intervention to get perspective. Bless them...and you.

Connie said...

Deep Sigh...sniff, sniff...absolutely beautiful...thank you.

I love finding little clues (besides the obvious) as to why I fell in love with my husband in the first place !

Mrs. E said...

Beautiful! Time for me to leave a few clues myself!

Marisa @ Getting Back To Basics said...

Your beautiful story really touched me...there is hope for every relationship and it's often the little things...like Snicker bars that are the glue to hold it together.

Suz said...

I wonder if she ever left anything for him
for no reason

Ragamuffin Gal said...

For the second time today ~ I cried ~ the bittersweetness of this story and the way you retold it was so precious and sweet. There are so many things to regret besides growing older. Thanks for the story ~ thanks for being you!

suvarna mollerup said...

Oh how i love this story! thank you for sharing it.
Happy Nablopomo to you.

Jeanie said...

Some stories are little gems. This is one of them. Simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. And a good reminder to get some Snickers.

Patti said...

Beautiful story Relyn...love the ending! In the end...all we have is love~

S. Etole said...

This so touching and so true.

Anonymous said...

i.adore.this.
&
snickers

Kirsten Steen said...

That is lovely! Thank you so much for sharing that!

awareness said...

Hi Relyn.... I found you this morning through the blog grapevine. I am SO touched by this story, I can't tell you. I was rushed by tears I didnt even know were waiting to be touched upon.

Simple gifts hold such meaning don't they? Beautiful, beautiful.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Oh, Relyn, I'm in tears. What a beautiful story...sometimes a gentle nudge is all it takes to give everything a start. Totally touched..

christina said...

this is so beautiful and touching. yes, yes it is.
xo

PixieDust said...

What a beautiful, bittersweet story... sometimes when we think we've lost so much time, it is only because we didn't savor it.

:-)

(((hugs))),
love,
me

gkgirl said...

oh...
i love, love, loved this.

honestly and truly.
fantastic.

Rita said...

Sometimes it is hard to hang in there, but committment is the answer! What an inspiring story!

Kyra said...

I wonder what made him leave that snicker bar there that day?

Oldies, but Goodies