Mr. and Mrs.

I just came back from a viewing for a woman who was very loved. She had no children, but we all felt like her kids. Her husband was our high school band director. Today, as her husband stood by her casket, looking affectionately at her lifeless form, and absently reaching out to touch her shoulder, I was overcome with emotion. He simply loved her and was not embarrassed to show how distraught he was. That's the way it should be. Unlike other teachers, Mr J never reported my husband and I to the principal for holding hands or sneaking a kiss when we were in school. He just let us be in love, never questioning or scolding. As I was expressing my sympathies to Mr. J's sister, I told her we had been students of Mr J. She said "And you are still together? Must be music is the way to go." It hit me at that moment the similarities. Mr. and Mrs. J had been together a long time and both had enormous musical talent. So I answered, "Well, it worked for them." The man that we all looked up to and cannot bring ourselves to call by first name, hugged me and cried on my shoulder because his beloved wife is gone. We should all be loved so much. My heart aches for him and all I can do is pray for him. He will keep himself busy with many things, but he will go home to a dark house every night. A house that he lovingly built for her. They loved each other with everything they had, and they are an inspiration to us. They were married for 41 years and it wasn't long enough. I hope you all find love like that.