Monday, September 20, 2021

Moments In Time - A Gift for Belinda and Jim


Moments in time, memories arise through each line
From the obvious overt, to the sweet sublime 
Belinda lists them off … one after another, again and again 
Every moment with his wife is a favorite, so says Jim 


And so here we go, hop aboard, let’s ride this ride

Moving from the past to present, an ever-flowing tide
Meeting through common friends – Carol and Paul’s plan of attack

Belinda had gone to Hawaii, until Paul called Jim: “She’s baaaaaaack” 

She wanted a tennis partner, tired of doing life alone

Jim too – they would find common connection via the phone

A first encounter, Capitola Community Center tennis, September 22 

A bit informal, didn’t call it “a date” - then why bring chocolates too?  

And in effortless flow, a stolen moment under a tree 

Belinda remembers it so clear – “And then, he kissed me” 


Shall he propose, they talked marriage for a long time   

Dating six and a half years, will he bring forth the famous line? 

When Jim dropped something and went to a knee, Belinda would get the feeling… 

“Is this the time Jim?” Hmmm, Jim would learn to bend over instead of kneeling

Driving through mountains to Santa Cruz, a strike out on Highway 17  ````````````````

Then later with a ring, a proper proposal, leading to May 14  

The wedding day came after a year of coordinating, planning, and waiting

It was Monet's bridge in Giverny overlooking waterlilies, like a painting 

Dancing on air, excited, filled with wonder, beauty, and joy

Sunny Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, greenery, a pond, turtles and fish koi

In retrospect, so much led up to a marriage between these souls, kindred and kind

So many pins on the road map, so many memorable moments in time


Playing tennis, ping-pong, pickleball, Pokémon, taking walks along the beach
Kick the rock, Walton Lighthouse, a movie on the couch, hands within reach
A riled-up wasp nest, they came after Belinda’s clothes and hair, oh no!

When getting off plane to Hawaii, Jim fell flat on his face, breaking his toe  

Laughing out loud at episodes of “Friends,” wanting to help a sea lion down harbor way

Rolling Stones in San Diego; Barbra Streisand at the Shark Tank in San Jose   
Hawaii’s city of Refuge, off a ledge, two steps and into the ocean they go
Swimming with wild spinner dolphins, Belinda and Jim four years in a row  
Eiffel Tower, on the River Seine, within the City of Lights

Le Jules Verne Restaurant, a window seat, one of the magical nights

A Croatia castle, a sword, a Dragon Room, Jim knighted by Belinda … so neat 

Santorini island off Greek Mediterranean, Lake Bled in Slovenia, Damanhur Spiritual Retreat 
Crow’s Nest, Sanderlings in Aptos, Le Papillon, Starbucks – always a winner
Renting a Montalvo Park room in Saratoga, along with a Valentine’s dinner  


Sentiments from Jim: She is kind, honest, positive, even-tempered, generous, sensitive, and full of care
I’m so very lucky to have met her, she can always count on me to be there
Sentiments from Belinda: I’ve never met a man so thoughtful of other people, competitive but fair 
It’s so glorious to be with him, he’s a keeper, I must have done something right, somewhere

And so envelops a love story, complete with an effortless rhythm and rhyme 

So much love, so much admiration, so many memorable moments in time




Audio Rendition Found HERE