This post by Abbie Johnson Taylor
In the past ten years, I’ve had three life-changing events, all prefaced by natural disasters. In December of 2004, an earthquake and tsunami struck the coast of Japan. In January of 2005, my husband Bill proposed to me by mail. He was living in Fowler, Colorado, while I was here in Sheridan, Wyoming. After a two-year long distance relationship, I thought he just wanted to be friends so the letter came as a shock.
In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. On September 10, 2005, Bill and I were married in a beautiful ceremony in my grandmother’s back yard.
In October of 2013, Super Storm Sandy struck New York. On October 30th, 2013, Bill passed away in a nursing home where he’d been for the past month, declining as a result of two strokes after six years of being cared for by me at home.
This month, we would have been married ten years. To commemorate our anniversary, I would like to share a poem from my latest collection, That’s Life, and the song that inspired it. When I heard this song a couple of years ago on A Prairie Home Companion, it was as if Bill were speaking to me from above. After two years, I’m finally able to sing it with dry eyes. You can click on the link below to hear me recite the poem and sing the song.
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WORDS FROM A LOVED ONE’S GRAVE
Everywhere you are,
I will always be with you,
watching from above.
Every time you breathe,
every decision you make,
I’ll know about it
and love you even more.
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https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15213189/wherever%20you%20are.mp3
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Abbie Johnson Taylor, Author of:
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How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver
That’s Life: New and Selected Poems
Order That’s Life from Finishing Line Press.
Writing Wranglers and Warriors 
Abbie, it is interesting how we remember those major details of our life and the music that is part of it. The mourning we go through, we do on our time. When ready we can share. Thank you for sharing your memories. Doris
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Thank you, Doris, I agree with you.
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Beautiful tribute to your husband, Abbie! You’re an amazing lady!
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Precious memories, Abbie. So glad you shared them with us. I pressed the link and listened to your poem and the song you sang. Made my cry.
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You’re not the only one crying, Mike. It took me two years to be able to hear or sing that song without losing it.
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Hello Abbie,
This is a sad, moving tribute. For all the pain that has happened, I can’t help but think of the phrase it is better to have loved, than not loved at all. I hope you can find happiness remembering good moments with the short time you had with Bill.
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Your wedding photo is so cheerful, Abbie. That’s a lovely memory to have and it goes so well with the heartfelt sentiments in your poem and song. Your talent and dedication shines through beautifully.
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I’m so glad you are working through your pain, and finally there seems to be some relief. This is a beautiful tribute. Cher’ley
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Lovely post, Abbie
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Great tribute to Bill and I agree, your wedding photo is wonderful. What a precious memory to grow on.
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What a beautiful song and tribute. Thank you for sharing it.
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