“I’m all foozledee tonight, but at least we’re back together again,” Maga said once we’d reconnected. The line’d dropped before and I had to wait a few minutes for her to properly hang up her phone so I could call through again.
“Did you have a good Valentine’s Day?” I said.
“Oh, yes.”
“Did you wear red?”
“Lots of it. And went to lunch with a friend from [church name].”
“Isn’t that where my mom and dad got married?”
“Why, yes. It is. Many years ago.”
“And where did you and Jobo get married?”
“At [church name] in Montclair, NJ. Not far from where I grew up.”
“Did you have any bridesmaids?”
“4 of them. Two from college and two from the neighborhood. I went to high school with them. It was wonderful having their help. Didn’t I ever show you my wedding book?”
“You must have, but the details need refreshing. Who walked you down the aisle? Your uncle?”
“Yes. Uncle E. As you know, my parents divorced when I was 4 and so Uncle E filled in the gaps. He was like a father. A great man.”
“How wonderful to have him there.”
“Yes, it really was. Did you get my valentine today?”
“I did. Thank you! You know, I’ve never asked. Where did you and Jobo get the $2 bill?”
“The bank.”
Her literal answer tickled me so much, it took much a good few minutes to collect myself. “No, no, I meant the idea of sending a $2 bill for Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh. It was just a crazy idea, I guess. We have so many grandchildren and it didn’t cost us too much to do that. Plus $2 bills are unusual and neat.”
“I always thought it was because two is a couple. And Valentine’s Day is a day for couples. Anyways, did I ever tell you I carry one of the $2 bills in my wallet so whenever I see it I think of you and Jobo.”
“That’s good. You’ll always have a little bit of money then.”
“And a little bit of my grandparents wherever I go.”
Her reason and my interpretation may differ, but the love between us is the same.
Abigail Mumford 