Finding Comfort With Elizabeth Harris Browning

I remember that night and that place. I remember having dinner at the Beech Street Grill and strolling down Ash Street. I remember old Fernandina, the fort and the feel of the sand on my feet. I remember your smile. I remember holding your hand as we walked down Seventh Street to the Walnford Inn. As the lights of the Inn glimmered a light mist fell and we held hand and stood in the street looking up at the beautiful second floor staircase. I remember the cool moisture of the spring shower and the warmth of my tears as the found their way down my cheeks. I remember being happy, tearfully happy.

We shared a special time that summer. The streets of the old town brought back our youth and revived our passion for life and for each other. The morning breakfasts at the Walnford made me feel as if I were a child at home again. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so at peace with myself before that summer. We spent the evenings walking the streets or rocking on the porch. I remember watching your eyes as I rocked and seeing you smile for no reason. I remember smiling.

The day you asked me to marry you and that evening, when you spoke to my father, I cried tears of happiness, but that was different. Those were tears of happiness, and nervous joy that someone so special could want to spend their life with me. That summer, standing in the rain in the street, I cried tears of contentment, tears of pure joy and tears of gratefulness for the wonderful life I was living. Oh, I cried and I remember how you held my hand and never asked why.

We later walked the streets of old Savannah and Charleston. We stayed for a night in a beautiful home in Summerville. We traveled to beautiful towns and enjoyed nights beneath starlight skies. I saw you smile and we shared laughter at other places. When trouble times come along and I need to turn to a happy though I always remember that summer at the Walnford. The time was right and the place was perfect. I remember thinking I felt our love grow that summer. I know that sounds crazy, but that feeling was unmistakable.

I’ve had days when I thought I would die from despair, but the joy in our lives always pulled me through those tough times. Today I sit on this bench grasping the thoughts of old Fernandina as if they were precious stones. My wounded heart is in need of something to shield it from the pain of the moment. As I prepare to grieve over your remains, I fortify my heart by thinking of that summer, our walks and your smile.

Tomorrow and until we are joined again, every day I’ll think of that summer. In my heart and mind I walk those streets, enjoy the rain and feel the warmth and beauty of the Walnford. Maybe I’ll go there and stand in the street again and watch as the lights glimmer and enjoy the moment thinking of you.

Today I give thanks for sharing a walk with you.