Saturday night, Tom and I went to a retirement party for our neighbor Jason. Jason has worked in the medical district for many years, and about 35 of his friends and coworkers showed up at the Churchill Room of the Black Lab to wish him well. We had a blast listening to people roast and toast him. His last day of work was made his day officially by a proclamation from Houston’s mayor for the many ways Jason has benefited our city over the years through the fine example he’s set as a citizen and through his volunteer work.
Jason is an avid reader–he plans to do a lot of that with his free time now–and he also wants to write a mystery (he said he’s started one, but it’s a bit racy, so he’ll let Tim read it but not me). He’s always been a big supporter of Timothy James Beck and of all the writing Tim and I have done, together or solo. Actually, I reminded him tonight of one of my favorite Jason moments. In December of 2006, I heard a knock on my front door. I opened it to see Jason, and he gave me the biggest hug and said, “Thank you!” When I asked why he was thanking me, he said, “I just finished reading A Coventry Christmas.” I understood. I wish I could hug every author whose work has felt like a gift to me over the years. (Well, not the deceased ones, of course.)
Tonight also reminded me of why I’m baffled when people place limitations on the right to marry. See, Jason and Jeff, his partner, have been together twenty-eight years. They are wonderful people who have enriched so many lives just by being who they are, as individuals and as a couple. Theirs is a relationship that I respect and admire and look to as proof that couples can forge a life together through good times and bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. It is a marriage.
Thank you, Jeff and Jason, for being good neighbors and a lovely part of my life.
Consider yourself HUGGED for this blog entry. And for telling so well what a marriage is.
28 years! goodness – congrats and enjoy all the reading, jason!
Jason sounds like good people. I like his reaction to A Coventry Christmas.
One fine day, I want somebody to turn up on my doorstep and slug me in the gut, after reading something I’ve written. : )
Okay!
What a wonderful post. See, that’s how I feel when I get to see you and Timothy. I just want to thank you for making the characters mean some thing so much to me.
As for marriage, you know how I feel about it. It’s about love, and how can there be judgment against that? Christians (some) judge too much, it’s what squishes their faces together so much, making them look so harsh. Live your own life people. Or go talk to Jerry Springer. But leave good loving folks alone.
“Theirs is a relationship that I respect and admire and look to as proof that couples can forge a life together through good times and bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. It is a marriage.”
That’s so heartening to read . . . thanks for sharing.
What a sweet entry.
BTW, I really miss the Black Lab. Their baked brie with apricot jam is worth coming home for.
– Crash
I wish we’d seen you on your Christmas trip. Maybe next time? I’ll meet you at the Black Lab!