Patricia is a presence within, a presence infinitely beyond the senses, a presence that is elusive but, nearer than my heart; yet like my heart, I feel her there within. I Hear her hailing me from beyond the grave and know she has and will be forever there within!

November 11, 1968, first date, I asked, “Will you marry me?” Too soon for her to answer. February 9. 1969, 4 days after my birthday she answered in a small almost inaudible voice, “I love you!” Me “Does that mean you will marry me?” She replied “Yes!”

In meditation we bare in each others’ soul. As Rumi says:

WITH YOU HERE BETWEEN

Lovers work, so that when body and soul

are no longer together, their loving will be free.

Wash in wisdom-water, so you will have no regrets,

about the time here.

Love is the vital core of the soul and of all you see, only love is infinite.

Your non-existence before you were born

is the sky in the east.

Your death is the western horizon, with you here between.

The way leads neither east nor west, but in.

Test your love-wings and make them strong.

Forget the Idea of religious ladders.

Love is the roof. Your senses are waterspouts.

Drink rain directly off the roof.

Waterspouts are easily damaged

and often must be replaced.

Say this poem in your chest.

Don’t worry how it sounds

going through your mouth.

A human body is a bow.

Breathing and speech are arrows.

When. the quiver and arrows are used up or lost,

there is nothing more for the bow to do.

[from “the Essential RUMI” translated by Coleman Barks]