The Best Wife I’ve Ever Had

It all started with what I thought was just an innocent statement about the wife of an acquaintance of mine. I asked my wife if she remembered her. I said “You remember, she was the pretty redhead.” That unfortunately for me was not received in the same manner I thought  it was sent. The very next instant, I was asked “What do you mean by that?”. Somehow I knew I was in trouble but I wasn’t exactly sure what I had just dared to utter. It didn’t take me long to figure it out. Her next statement was quite clear on the reason for my demise. “Is that the way you describe women? How do people describe me? Am I the old, white haired, Church lady?”

Now if you were in my shoes you know the next thing that comes out of your mouth is critical. My brain was working overtime trying to come up with just the proper way to respond for minimum damage control. The words were somehow stuck in limbo between my frontal lobe and my tongue. Somehow I managed to choke out “No, everyone thinks you are really cute and they love your white hair.” That was it , that’s all I had. Was it enough? I instinctively raised my hands in front of my face performing my best Mohammed Ali impersonation doing the rope a dope waiting to block the first punch.

I didn’t have to wait very long for the first blow. Luckily it didn’t come in the form of a closed fist but it did knock me to the mat. She asked me with a glare that could scare the feathers right off a chicken, “How do You describe me to people?” My life flashed in front of my eyes. I knew this may be the end for me. I screamed at my brain for help. I’d  been in situations like this before and was always able to talk my way out of them. But this one was different. My whole future of ever eating again with my teeth that God gave me was now in doubt.

That’s when it happened. Those little hamsters on the wheel in my head must have been running for their lives. A light came on and it was if God himself gave me these words. “Dear, I tell people that you are without a doubt “The Best Wife I’ve Ever Had.”

It was as if Moses had just raised his staff and parted the Red Sea. My exile in the desert was ending. A smile was slowly coming to the corners of her mouth. This was my sign. I’ve been a salesman most of my adult life and knew this was the time to go for the close. I said in a very coy, loving voice, “You are my BWE, the best wife ever. It seemed like an eternity waiting for her response. I had thrown out a big “matzo ball” and it was hanging precariously in the wind.

She looked up at me and softly whispered , “you are my BHE, the best husband ever.” I made the sale. She had just signed the contract and given me a 100% deposit. A kiss on the lips and a hug and I was in the clear.

Now of course Rachelle has been the only wife I’ve ever had and she is the only wife I ever will have. Love doesn’t happen very often or easily and once you’ve found it, you’ve got to hold on to it for all it’s worth. That’s what got me to start thinking. Is my wife the best I ever could have or ever want. I have to answer that one with a resounding “Yes”. In fact she has always been a better wife to me than I have been a husband to her.

Rachelle has always been my anchor throughout our relationship and marriage. She has always supported my career moves whether right or wrong.
In the first few years of our marriage she stuck with me through 2 job firings, a failed business venture and another 3 different jobs. She always had confidence in me that I could do whatever I tried. Without her I’m sure I could never had made a success out of myself and made a good career selling cabinetry at Naylor’s.

Rachelle was the one that set an example for me and guided me back into the church. Without her I don’t know if I ever would have ever found the faith in God that I had abandoned in my youth and that has sustained me in my adulthood.

Rachelle has given me the gift of parenthood with 3 beautiful children that have all grown into tremendous adults. Their lives gave my life a whole new meaning and reason to live. What a blessing they have been to me and continue to be both Rachelle and myself. I certainly cannot forget my grandchildren that just keep giving me a joy and peace that I am so thankful for.

Rachelle has always been my best friend and confidant. We laugh, love,   talk, share all things, and sing nonsense together every day. She always gives me a dance in front of the television every night. She  laughs at all my bad jokes and  still thinks I’m funny after all these years. She puts up with all my night noises in bed and covers me up like a little baby every night.

She counts out all my heart medications every week and makes sure I take them as prescribed like a Sergeant Major. She encourages me to stick with my Yoga classes because she knows how much I need them. She gets me off the couch  and gets me walking and exercising on a regular basis because as she says she wants to keep me around for a little longer.

As much as my brothers and their wives give me credit for keeping the family together after my parents died, it wasn’t me. It has always been at the urging of Rachelle that I get of my butt and call my siblings and Aunt. If it was up to me we probably would never get together. Through all the years it has been my beautiful wife that has been the glue that has bound us as a family.

I’m sure without the support and encouragement of Rachelle I would never have joined the choir at church and learned to play guitar. Music has given me a new way to express myself and my inmost feelings that I never knew was possible. I find I love to spend time writing and recording the songs of my life. It has been so life giving to me.

Guess who got me enrolled in a writing class and opened up another whole new world for me to explore. That’s right it was my BWE and I cannot and probably do not ever thank her enough for this gift that she knew was inside of me and that I didn’t even knew existed.

I could never have found a better person to share my love of nature, than with Rachelle. We love our camping trips to the Pinery, our bicycling adventures, our long walks on the beach, campfires at Wheatley Park or bird watching at Point Pelee. One of our favourite things to do is to just walk through the woods and commune with nature and each other and never get bored with the same stories or sights that we share with one another time and again.

So what all started out with an innocent comment on my part has led to a lot of thought and consideration. The question still remains is  Rachelle the Best Wife I’ve Ever Had ? I think the answer to that question has become very obvious. I truly believe that Rachelle and I were always meant to be together in this lifetime. There is no one else in this world that could have been a better choice for me. I don’t believe that it was just dumb assed luck that the two of us got together. Perhaps a little bit of divine intervention is probably more likely, but whatever it was, I have been very blessed all these years to have married my best friend and my only true love.

So what started out as just a smart ass response to a direct question from my wife has led to all this reflection and a definitive answer . Yes, Rachelle has been, still is, and always will be The Best Wife I’ve Ever Had.

With all my love,
Dave (your BHE)