respect

they certainly seeemed to have some magic between them...

he was in a wheelchair dealin' with parkinson's disease, she was
there next to him ready to help him in any way he needed. not
hovering and overprotective....just there and with him. really
with him. that's what caught my eye. they were so present with
each other.

as the three of us conversed, they'd look at each other and nod,
or help each other with a thought, or ask each other what they
thought about something.

i asked them their story. they filled me in. i asked them what
they thought made a relationship work. they filled me in.

but what really stood out was what they were living. isn't that always
the way? words are one thing....example is another.

i can't remember ever being so taken with the respect between two
people. i think if/when i see that, it takes awhile to see,
and it's over time that i see it happening.

i don't remember ever seeing it instantly before my eyes. it was
knock you down beautiful. the repsect and admiration they had for
each other poured thru their eyes, their movements, their words,
and the spaces in between all of that.

i'm still captivated with it this morning.

and i'm grinnin', suprised that their magic seemed to be rooted in
something so practical as respect.

why i'm surprised, i don't know.

the very first feeling that i remember feeling really deeply about
my partner is respect. and that same respect has carried
us over mountains.

so i shouldn't be surprised. but i am.
and i'm thinking i want to sit with the concept for a bit.
as i've grown older, i see that i don't give it as lightly as
i used to.

now what i want to make sure of is that when i do give it,
it's visible, present, and wholehearted.

i'm thinking there's magic in that.