The 1970's TV movie "Sunshine" always reminds me of Melinda, because she told me many times over our years together, that it was one of her favorite films. It always reminds me of my sister Jane too, who passed away from cancer last winter. The film was about a young mother, who discovers that she is terminally ill with cancer, and then procedes to tape messages for her child to listen to later in life.
I was very sad, to find out that my ex-girlfriend from my hometown had passed away last month. In a strange coincidence, I searched her name online for the first time ever, and found an obituary for her. I had never looked online for anyone from from hometown before, as I couldnt wait to get out of there and go out into the real world. I literally walked away, and never looked back. I prefer to remember the truly good memories in my life....summers in the Adirondacks, my times with my sister Jane when she lived in Bayonne, and my lives in Germany, Toronto, and NYC (including my real friends from those times, that I am still with today)....etc..., definitely not from my life in that town. But, I always felt a connection to Melinda, and never forgot her. I had been thinking about her the last three months, for some unknown reason, and was shocked and saddened to find out that she had died just a few days before, I found her obituary. My sister Jane and Melinda were both true Sagittarians, and got along very well. They also had many of the same issues and struggles in life. Many songs remind me of Melinda. "Taxi" by H.Chapin, "Sundown" by G.L., and almost anything by Janis Joplin.
I feel so bad for the whole family, but especially so for her Mother, who was always wonderful to me. Melinda's mother was a warm, lovely woman, who along with Mrs Mundy, was one of my favorite ladies from that time. I had not thought about that town or the people there in many, many years, but now with Melinda's passing, I see it all again. I can still see their home, a very old-style cottage, with a wood-burning stove. They had several large apple trees in the backyard, that I used to climb, and an old-fashioned swing underneath the trees, with a view of a large golden hay-field, the forest, and rolling hills in the background. It was very beautiful and comforting. I can see her parents there, working in their vegetable garden, (snapping beans and picking swiss chard ..lol ). I can still see her sister and brother Melissa and Brian, and their partners at the time Wayne and Pam. I remember feeding their chickens, and Melinda's horses "Sparkplug" and "Jack", and their lamb "Niffin".
My last image of Melinda, is her waiting for me on her front porch, with a cup of tea and their dogs Tasha and Judy. She has on her favorite hip hugger blue jeans with colored patches and a t-shirt. Melinda sees me, and then jumps up and comes out to the driveway with that half-moon smile on her face, offset by her beautiful auburn hair and warm brown eyes, and says "Hello love" with a british accent, as she hops into my car. I was very much in love with her back then. All through these long years and thousands of miles, I still felt connected to Melinda and her family. I'll miss her, and hope that she is at peace now. Thank you for reading my words today. Love and Light to you.
