A True Love Story

It was never just Ma. Where there was Ma, Pa was always close by. You don’t realize the power of love, until you live through it with time. For every kiss goodnight, the heart grows fonder. Memories are shared, moments created. I can honestly say that in my 33 years on this earth, I’ve never seen a love story quite like Ma and Pa.

There was once a little girl named Nancy Lee, and a boy named Ken Wright and fate brought them together. Their union brought many people into this world, but also a lesson of true love.

You can’t fake, TRUE love because it’s never the same.

Ma and Pa had that kind of magic. As I grew from childhood to adulthood, I remember very key facts about their relationship.

1. Ma was the boss, or else Pa let her think so, but when it meant something to Pa, Ma followed his lead.
2. Ma nurtured Pa throughout life by making sure he was always ok, and Pa effortlessly gave Ma the attention she yearned for. (Ma was his Queen, in the truest sense of the word, and he was her king.)
3. I don’t think I ever saw them let a day go by without saying I love you.
4. Pa enjoyed Ma’s crazy, or as I like to call it, Sparkle.
5. And when it was important to one, it was important to the other.

This list seems short and simple, but time is the true test.

From the moment I knew Ma and Pa, I knew that they were my grandparents, their home was my home, their love was always with me. It wasn’t just me that was a part of Ma and Pa’s legacy. Any beautiful soul that entered their home, broken or unbroken, was welcomed as part of the family and we ALL called them, Ma and Pa.

The most amazing part about it all was they did it together.

I remember going to their consignment shop and while Ma and I worked the front, Pa was always in the back bringing some piece of furniture back to life.

Sleepovers at their house were most likely an event with kids and friends stopping by. And every night like clockwork, Pa would walk over to Ma and kiss her forehead to say “I love you baby”.

Recently, Pa became ill and started to descend from this earth. Ma had to face the idea of life without Pa for the first time in over 60 years. As she sat by his hospice bed and sang him their song, tears flowed. He could barely speak but she could still feel his energy. He held on, always reassuring her that he was ok.

That kind of magic leaves a footprint on your soul. It reaffirms that love is the most powerful feeling of all, and to watch it grow is even more powerful. So thank you, Ma and Pa for teaching many generations HOW TO LOVE.