Her Name Lit Up The Skies, For Him

Her name always sounded like a great song to him. He'd just say it and wherever he was the place lit up with baubles, bangles and beads. Sounds corny, doesn't it? But her name befit her so well. He often thought it isn't true that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.". Somehow the name rose brought great colors to mind on a stately stem and the fragrance would fill the room with great balms to the the senses. Call a rose an onion and for him the whole picture changed. That's how it was with her name. He'd say her name and it would bring visions of youth, energy, Dance and laughter wrapped up in a beauty that was indescribable.

He was getting dressed to go and see her and he was saying her name over and over again psyching himself up when he would see her. She was only a couple of miles away and he decided to walk even though it was January. The January thaw had taken over and it was a rather balmy evening. He decided to walk and sing the song from "My Fair Lady" that he had sung along with Vic Damon as it played on the radio when he, so long ago, went to pick her up for their date. Back then he wasn't familiar with her name but it always sparked the youthful feelings of love and discovery as it does even today. He adjusted his tie, threw on the suit jacket,
put on his over coat and stopped before the full length mirror in the vestibule, placed his fedora on rather jauntily and left locking the door as he started to walk to see her. Sing to himself almost under his breath.

I have often walked down this street before;

But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.

All at once am I Several stories high.

Knowing I'm on the street where you live.

Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?

Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?

Does enchantment pour Out of ev'ry door?

No, it's just on the street where you live!

And oh! The towering feeling

Just to know somehow you are near.

The overpowering feeling

That any second you may suddenly appear!

People stop and stare. They don't bother me.

For there's no where else on earth that I would rather be.

Let the time go by, I won't care if I

Can be here on the street where you live.

As he walked he got bolder laughing under his breath as he shouted "People stop and Stare." because they were stopping and staring and they didn't bother him and they didn't bother him because he was going to see his girl whose name alone made him feel as though he could walk on air, when she was actually there it was too heady to describe. He was truly in love, and completely infatuated all at the same time. He never completely understood how a person so beautiful, so full of life, so full of adventure could ever take up with a guy like him. But she did and she loved him and it was unbelievable. All he ever wanted was that she said she'd be his girl. They married but that was the legal, sacramental thing. The real giving of each other was becoming "HIS" girl and he "HER" guy. This declaration gave ownership to both of them that would never be broken. He remembered the heady feeling of elation when she said she would be his. They kissed like crazy on the subway going back to Elmhurst where his car was parked and all the old ladies on the train were scandalized and all the old men were remembering their youth, but to them they were the only ones on the subway car, nothing else existed but their love for each other in the surrendering of themselves to the moment which would live in their minds until death.

He was getting nearer to her place and his steps quickened as he kept repeating her name over and over in between the different words of "On The Street Where You Live". As he approached the place he finished the song, "Let the time go by, I don't care if I Can be here on the street where you live." He trotted up the five or six steps, opened the door, looked on the wall for her name and room designation. She was on the second floor. He rushed up the stairs, then halted before entering the room which was somewhat noisy and sounded crowded. He held his breath as he entered and silently went to the rear where he could view the whole room and up front in the center was the coffin being held by the bier and she looked as beautiful as ever. She looked peaceful but a little stern but once he mouthed her name he could still see the smile, hear the laughter almost see her dance again. Making the sign of the cross he quietly left the room unnoticed. As he left the funeral home and started walking back home he felt the loneliness of being without his girl. Somehow the song held more melancholy than it did previously, "The overpowering feeling, That you may suddenly appear", "I don't care as long as I can be here on the street where you live". Reaching home he unlocked the door and entered their house. The first moments were empty, like a big dark never ending hole but then he said her name first under his breath, then loudly then almost in a shout and suddenly he knew he wasn't alone she was there, still his girl and he her guy. I tell you her name is magical belonging to her heart and soul giving her love to him through eternity.

Dedicated to Sarita, Dec. 24. 1935 - Jan. 21, 2008 (4:14PM)