The Colors Of My Longing Poem by Sara Militello

This poem was inspired by the fact that my brother had Alzheimer's so serious, he could not drive or care for himself the last years of his existence on this Earth. But he never forgot his wife; my beloved sister-in-law, and would would not respond to what even his doctors asked him or directed him to do, without her presence beside him.

He forgot most of details of what makes up a life...except her.Until the day he died, he knew who she was. They'd been in business together, she the bookkeeper, he the performer of the tasks inherent in that business, and everyone who knew them marveled that they could spend so much time together even outside the work environment. Even I used to tease her that they were 'joined at the hip' because they did literally everything together with their two children until the children left home. Then they traveled the world, shopped, got haircuts together, etc...They played tennis well into their 60s so were both very fit for their age.She is still doing her own gardening.

I have only gotten to know my sister-in-law well since my brother passed on 12 years ago and have come to love her dearly. I sit rapt as she recounts their time together day to day and when traveling to the 23 countries they visited. Her memory at 90 is remarkable for all the tiny details that makes any trip to a foreign country the delight it can be.

Theirs was a truly remarkable relationship most of us can only dream about. After all, a life's companion should be companionable, wouldn't you think?