By: Norberto Betita
In my graying and retreating physical buoyance and vitality, I often hear in meditative reflections the echoes of the falling leaves and pages of the passing time. The vigor of those youthful years has been left just an experience of the past as the sturdy running physique becomes a deteriorating vintage machine. Nature has its own changes as time runs fast and far. Its cries have since been excessive as to fill with its tears the dry voids of the earth’s landscape. Its anger brought intensifying superior blows that devastates its panoramic beauty and wonderful scenery. Its escalating fury terminates lives and smashes symbols of progress. The world continues to move carrying the glory of its vanities and the savagery and ferociousness of man-made calamities. Marriages and families are heavily bombarded by the evils of infidelity, separation and divorce. There seems to be no end to inhumanity, hate and anger as time flies fast on wings of lightning.
As I ponder these tearing undesirable events surrounding my personal existence, I just leave myself ostensibly oblivious as I wanted to pass the tests of time. Come what may, I pledge to remain as restrained as I can be and as faithful to my marital vow and family responsibilities as a solemn covenant of love beyond our time.
It has been 43 years since when I have myself tied by a bond of marriage to the woman I loved so dearly---my ever dearest Letty. Such love which started with infatuation soon bloomed and blossomed; and as time passes it becomes rooted deep into the hearts as to stay strong notwithstanding the wiles of temptations and adversity. It has been made even strongest as the heart’s beating fades and the sinews starts to weaken. The fresh aroma of romantic scent remains ever sweet and fragrant even in antiquity. Flagging health and vigor often leave us stuck in bed, but clasp of tenderness from each other’s hand heals the pain as the promise is made even sure that we will be together through all the trying moments and even into eternity.
More than 43 years ago, while we were yet best of friends, I used to serenade for Letty a song which I memorized from my mother’s lullaby for our very special youngest sibling. The song was no longer in the list of popular hits during those times, although I learned later that it was very popular in the early 1950’s. Lover’s theme song had been out of tradition. Yet I loved to share the song to her because of the message it conveys. For so many years such a favorite song seemed to have been lost from the pages of our love story until recently when she was so sick and down that I held her hand and sung for her the touching music and most meaningful lyrics of “NO OTHER LOVE.”
No other love can warm my heart
Now that I've known the comfort of your arms
No other love, oh the sweet contentment
That I find with you everytime, everytime
No other lips could want you more
For I was born to glory in your kiss, forever yours
I was blessed with love to love you
Till the stars burn out above you
Till the moon is but a silver shell
No other love, let no other love know the wonder of your spell
(Sung by Jo Stafford; words by Bob Russell; music credited to Paul Weston)
While I could not as yet finish the song for my becoming a weepy mess, her eyes gleamed in sterling glow when she smiled as to say, “I am healed.” I knew it wasn’t the music and its wonderful lyrics that sparked such a beautiful smile beyond pain, but it was the healing blaze of a memorable event in our love life which electrified the heart as to renew the flame and covenant of love beyond our time.
Indeed, time continues to roll the world to an interminable evolution of changes beyond personal comprehension. But true love rejects all apparatus of change, as it did to mine, for it is meant to endure in time and throughout all eternity.
TO MY EVER DEAREST AND DEARLY BELOVED LETTY HAPPY 43RD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. I may not be able to hold hands with you on a date today as it would make you look like a nurse for a limping old man that I am with ailing knees; rest assured, however, that no other love can warm my heart and my wish will always be the same, that I will not have a day without you in my life. Know that my love will always be active as that vintage bomb recently found, even until destruction and far beyond the limits of time.
As I ponder these tearing undesirable events surrounding my personal existence, I just leave myself ostensibly oblivious as I wanted to pass the tests of time. Come what may, I pledge to remain as restrained as I can be and as faithful to my marital vow and family responsibilities as a solemn covenant of love beyond our time.
It has been 43 years since when I have myself tied by a bond of marriage to the woman I loved so dearly---my ever dearest Letty. Such love which started with infatuation soon bloomed and blossomed; and as time passes it becomes rooted deep into the hearts as to stay strong notwithstanding the wiles of temptations and adversity. It has been made even strongest as the heart’s beating fades and the sinews starts to weaken. The fresh aroma of romantic scent remains ever sweet and fragrant even in antiquity. Flagging health and vigor often leave us stuck in bed, but clasp of tenderness from each other’s hand heals the pain as the promise is made even sure that we will be together through all the trying moments and even into eternity.
More than 43 years ago, while we were yet best of friends, I used to serenade for Letty a song which I memorized from my mother’s lullaby for our very special youngest sibling. The song was no longer in the list of popular hits during those times, although I learned later that it was very popular in the early 1950’s. Lover’s theme song had been out of tradition. Yet I loved to share the song to her because of the message it conveys. For so many years such a favorite song seemed to have been lost from the pages of our love story until recently when she was so sick and down that I held her hand and sung for her the touching music and most meaningful lyrics of “NO OTHER LOVE.”
No other love can warm my heart
Now that I've known the comfort of your arms
No other love, oh the sweet contentment
That I find with you everytime, everytime
No other lips could want you more
For I was born to glory in your kiss, forever yours
I was blessed with love to love you
Till the stars burn out above you
Till the moon is but a silver shell
No other love, let no other love know the wonder of your spell
(Sung by Jo Stafford; words by Bob Russell; music credited to Paul Weston)
While I could not as yet finish the song for my becoming a weepy mess, her eyes gleamed in sterling glow when she smiled as to say, “I am healed.” I knew it wasn’t the music and its wonderful lyrics that sparked such a beautiful smile beyond pain, but it was the healing blaze of a memorable event in our love life which electrified the heart as to renew the flame and covenant of love beyond our time.
Indeed, time continues to roll the world to an interminable evolution of changes beyond personal comprehension. But true love rejects all apparatus of change, as it did to mine, for it is meant to endure in time and throughout all eternity.
TO MY EVER DEAREST AND DEARLY BELOVED LETTY HAPPY 43RD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. I may not be able to hold hands with you on a date today as it would make you look like a nurse for a limping old man that I am with ailing knees; rest assured, however, that no other love can warm my heart and my wish will always be the same, that I will not have a day without you in my life. Know that my love will always be active as that vintage bomb recently found, even until destruction and far beyond the limits of time.
