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
