Rainy Saturday afternoon

My dear one,

It's hard to believe one of my brothers will be wed in a matter of weeks. I'm still wrestling with my feelings about this. Since the time he proposed last summer, there has been a strange distance in our relationship. Normal, I'm told by many, is such a change when a young man leaves his family to take a wife. But I somehow thought that my relationships with my immediate family members would never waver from what they have always been. I have taken it as a matter of course for friendships to dissolve when my friends have found their special someone, but it grieves my heart to see these close family bonds being loosened. I must confess I dread this wedding. Weddings are difficult for me anyway, but for it to be the one of my own younger brother makes it even harder. I breathed a small sigh of relief when I was requested to provide the music rather than fulfilling some kind of bridesmaid role. (After all, I do not really know the bride, having only met her for brief minutes!) My parents don't really know this girl either... which brings up an interesting point about you, my unknown sweetheart. I never want there to be unnecessary tension between you and my parents. I would hope you could get to know them as your relationship with me develops, so that they can grow to trust you as I grow to love you.

But enough about that...

I slept in late this morning and was wakened with weather alerts on my phone regarding severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. So then and there I pretty much determined that I would stay home in pajamas all day, enjoying my cozy little apartment! I lit my candles, turned on some Ella Fitzgerald on Pandora, made breakfast (eggs, coffee, and a clementine), spent some time reading and praying through Ephesians, phoned my grandmother, replied to a few emails from my students regarding the new semester, and pulled out some repertoire I need to practice for a March performance. Were you able to relax at all today, my dear one? Were your hours spent in solitude as mine were?

Every time it rains I think of you,

And that's the time I feel so blue.

The rain starts to fall

Across my window's pane,

But it's raining teardrops from my eyes.

Every single cloud would disappear,

I'd wear a smile, if you were here.

So, baby, won't you hurry?

Because I love you so,

And it's raining teardrops from my eyes.

(sung by Ella Fitzgerald here)