A Perfect Storm

The election is less than two weeks away now, and I've just managed to blow away any "widow" sympathy that I had within my neighborhood.

We live among rabid Republicans. In the past, we've posted the sole Democratic yard signs, and have them stolen. About one week before Mark passed away he said that he wanted to put up a sign stating "We told you so! Bush stunk, this time vote for Obama". I went to Kinkos and had the poster printed and clear wrapped, and posted it along with an Obama sign in the middle of my yard. I expect it will be stolen soon. Like last time, I'll replace it with 10 signs.

Mark had a life list of things to do. He loved Gorillas...he admired their remarkable combination of strength with gentleness. If only our nation shared similar values. He wanted to see them in the wild. He wanted to go to Morocco, and he wanted to drive a Ferraria, at least for a day.

There are two things that anyone who knew Mark would know: 1. Mark was VERY politically passionate. He was very well informed, and spent hours a day gathering information. 2. Mark LOVED Bob Dylan. We have just about every book about him, and several hundred albums, DVDs, and CDs (both legitimate and bootlegs). The first song we danced to was "Emotionally Yours", which was also the first song on our wedding CD. He would get tears in his eyes when he would explain what certain Dylan songs meant to him. We would drive anywhere within reason to see him play. He would vigorously defend him when people would say "he's a great songwriter, but he doesn't sing well".

On November 4th Mark would have had a "perfect storm". It is expected currently that Obama will win the presidency. Mark would have been ELATED! Bob Dylan is playing nearby, and of course we would have seen him. That would have been a perfect night for Mark, the two of us, seeing Bob Dylan on the night that the country starts pulling its collective head out of their ass.
Of course, I have tickets. Without him, it is going to be the ultimate bittersweet experience. I won't be with Mark during the perfect storm, but I will be with friends and my brother. That's still a pretty good deal.

I used to tell Mark that he existed within my heart. He went everywhere that I went. He's alive until my last heart beat. Mark was deprived of being a father, of our growing old together, achieving so many things he was nearing. He won't be seeing the gorillas. But he will see Bob Dylan. This is my mission: At some point in my life I am going to personally meet Bob. I will send a barrage of emails to whomever may be appropriate, make as many phone calls as I need to. Anyone who knows me knows that once I make up my mind, I don't let go. I may not succeed, but it won't be for lack of effort. If I am near Bob, Mark will be near his idol. I only wish I could have done it for him when he was alive. Mark not only loved his music, but deeply respected him as a person.

I would have done anything for Mark when he was alive, but the day to day reality of life's responsibilities distracted me sometimes. It hurts to be doing this for him when he's gone.

Just once in a while, do something spectacular for those that you love. Remind them that they're worth moving mountains for. It need not be expensive or grand, only authentic and from the heart.