I watched him intently as he talked about how he wanted to start reacting to people who had something funny to say about the gray taking over his chin…it involved a middle finger. His gorgeous brown eyes sparkled in response to my laughter. I was so content in that moment. Not because he can still make me giggle like a school girl…but because of the deeper meaning in those gray hairs that he now wears. I so often have the honor of seeing this animated and funny side of him, a side not always witnessed by others. My mind drifted to the years that have passed while earning the new color he has in his hair. I gotta say…I love each and every, silver strand and whisker. Genuinely. Passionately. Love.
Not one of them came easily – they were each earned. This one came from hardship. That one came from heartbreak. Another few came from time spent battling the obstacles so often placed in our paths…a few even came from battling me on occasion. At least five of those came in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2007, and 2009 – the years we were blessed with our children. He was always so worried during the first years of each new life…and the teen years seem to be adding more than their fair share of new gray now. As each of his younger siblings decided their own paths, or were stricken with tragedies that chose their paths for them, and strayed far from the successes we had hoped for during the time we raised them…POOF! Another gray few. And now, as the morning comes too early and the evenings last longer than he’d like, while working twelve hours a day to provide for us…well, you get the picture.
I see this man, and the new shades that he thinks are waging war against him, and I just have to say…you earned those the hard way, Baby! Wear those with pride as they are evidence of the fight, and definite markers of your victories. The same way my stretch marks are my metals of honor…so then are your gray hairs something to be proud of. I love you more than my own life and I would give my last heartbeat to you if you needed it. Each of those little reminders of the passage of time that you find so annoying, well, they only make me love you more…
I know I have told you this before- you have a way with words! Beautifuly written! It was like reading a love letter you find that was written between two people long ago, and you can just picture the love they must have shared! 🙂
This is a lovely post! My husband is actually almost all white on top now. He had a rough patch last year when he decided to dye his hair–but thankfully, he outgrew that phase. I agree–wear they gray with pride! He’s noticed a perk to having gray hair: he is getting respect from people who didn’t always show him respect–wait staff at restaurants, in particular. He thinks it’s the gray hair (respect your elders!)
Love it! So true and so sweet. I know exactly what you’re talking about, although I probably can’t claim as many years of experience. My husband and I have been together going on 8 years and he just started getting his first greys this year, which he still doesn’t like to believe…lol. I even had to pluck one to show him, but he insists that it’s someone else’s that must have flown into his hair on a breezy day. 😉