Celebration of the Birth of a Soulmate

                             In the Shark Tank restaurant at Sea World, December 2013

Yesterday we celebrated the 61^st anniversary of the birth of Andy Mobley, my life partner of 40 years this May 31 and my legal husband of five years this Aug. 13. We spent the evening at Seito, a Japanese restaurant in the Baldwin Manor neighborhood of northeast Orlando. The restaurant was deserted inside last night but all the tables outside were full. Happy people chattered around us as they enjoyed their sushi and wine, their dogs milling around our feet. We celebrated under a beautiful full moon rising in a warm southeasterly breeze.

It was magic.

Andy is one of the gentlest souls I have ever known. He is my rock of Gibraltar, the one down on the street who holds the ropes that keeps this Macy’s parade balloon from flying off and lodging in power lines. He is the quiet soul that consoles me when my heart is broken one more time as yet another of my never-ending bids to save the world crashes and burns. He is the soft laughter that lovingly endures the small zoo I have assembled and the jungle garden I have grown that we live amidst.

His soft snoring is the last thing I know at night and his voice is the first thing I listen for in the morning. I honestly have no idea why he has remained by my side all these years. But I will be eternally grateful that he has.

I heard the following words to a song on the radio last week and immediately thought of Andy. I think they beautifully describe the man whose soul I share and whose life has made mine complete.

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing in my head for you…

Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning

John Legend, “All of Me,” Love in the Future (EMI Music Publishing, 2014)

Happy Birthday, Beebee.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Rev. Harry Scott Coverston, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D.

Member, Florida Bar (inactive status)

Priest, Episcopal Church (Dio. of El Camino Real, CA)

Professed Member, Third Order, Society St. Francis (TSSF)

Asst. Lecturer: Religion, Humanities Philosophy of Law

Osceola/Valencia Regional Campus

University of Central Florida, Kissimmee

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ncoverst/

frharry@cfl.rr.com

If the unexamined life is not worth living, surely an unexamined belief system, be it religious or political, is not worth holding.

Most things of value do not lend themselves to production in sound bytes. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++