Love letters to my Mr. Nielson

Dearest Mr. Nielson,
Could this be true? An impromptu visit from you tomorrow?
Are you really TRULY coming? Oh I can't wait to see you!
You couldn't stay stay form me, could you?
Never mind that it is FRIDAY THE 13TH! 
 The last time it was Friday the 13th, Nicholas was circumcised
 and I with a nasty breast infection.
But not this Friday the 13th, no sir!
 I just hope that your plane doesn't go down, 
yikes, that would be quite dramatic.
Speaking of airplanes,

I was happy to hear that your flight school is as exciting as you thought.
 Pretty soon you can fly me around and we will pretend 
we are Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in
"Out of Africa".

Tonight I was invited to Jesse and Lindsay's home for dinner
and a family dance party.
Everyone showed up. It was pretty fun, and the kids loved it!

I played "Suicide Blonde" by your favorite band INXS in honor of you,

and Ollie and I slowed danced to Miles Davis (with Buzz in his pocket).

I wished I were in your arms, light as a feather dancing around Jesse's fantastic deck.

Of course, what would be a 

Clark family party without a whiffle ball game.


I am sooo excited to pick you up from the airport tomorrow!
And I am sooooo relieved that I don't have to drive the kids
back home to Arizona alone as we had planned!

Love letter to my Mr. Nielson

Dear Mr. Nielson,

I just put the children to bed, and now my thoughts are completely devoted to you.
I must say, I am a bit tired--what a day it has been!
I took our little Jane and together we triumphed the "Y".
I was so proud of our little redhead.
She marched up that mountain holding my hand the whole way.

Then at home, dad made mashed potatoes that would make you die.

They were so good, and I think he adds lots of cream

 to them-is your mouth watering?

I set the table and used Nana's darling etched glasses. 

(Mom, can I have these when you peacefully return to the Lord?)

They were the perfect touch to the table and matched the wild hydrangea 

I found in my mom's garden.

Then Lucy, mom, and I went in searching for the perfect fabric
for Lucy's mid-century modern chairs.
 Lucy decided on a lovely shade of yellow, it looks like a plump ripe
 lemon from off our tree in the backyard.
 .Andrew said he wasn't much of a fan,
but would give the color some time.
I get it.

I think most women love color.

 We love to make our lives pretty and fill it with things that make us happy. 

Our children make me happy. They fill my life with the most beautiful colors of all. 

 But YOU Mr. Nielson, you make me the happiest.

You are the unspeakable color in my life-and that's a good thing.

Adoringly yours,

-me