December 13th


                                              Woman, Arno River, Florence, Italy, graphite, 5" x 12", Steven Rhude


He remembers the winter wind tunnel of Toronto's University and Dundas intersection. Weather there never made falling in love easy. One had to time the insensitive blustery gusts to take in a facial expression,  or just to touch -  on a chilly December day. This was at a time when the clock had several hours left till midnight - while on the way to make a gallery bank deposit at one of the big six ... he still can't recall which one, but he can see the sidewalk slush and her red scarf. Wasn't there a Chinese art supplier somewhere along the way?

 For some reason it remains in his mind.

He met her forty years ago on December 13th. Back then, they would fall in love, get married, and go to Florence, Italy for their honeymoon. He quit his job in Toronto to do it, and she didn't care -she liked that.

 One night at dusk they were on a bridge over the Arno. Back lit, almost silhouetted, she remained unmoved. She smiled. A river woman -  he wondered if, like Daphnee she should turn into a laurel tree?

She said "Don't tell the kids it was forty years ago today."

"Ok, I won't."

She smiled again like a river woman. He liked that.

Steven Rhude, Wolfville Nova Scotia 

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