The arboretum was his gift to her, a sanctuary from the life-crushing city beneath.
“You deserve Utopia,” knowing full well she had not read, in fact would never read, the book for which such impossible places are named.
So it was not surprising she took it for granted, as she had the fox cubs, the Daimler, the summers in Switzerland.
She would say “the arboretum” as though it were a bedroom or hallway, a common thing found in even the most modest home.
Only when long illness confined her to the indoors did she come to fully appreciate his gift.
You don’t know what you got til it’s gone
Now that’s a dedication of love.
Dear Josh,
A tender story of love and loss. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A tragedy that it took illness to open her eyes. Nice take.
I’m absolutely fascinated by this story, and I’ve read it over and over again. It’s the huge mismatch between the partners that has me hooked. The man gifts the woman with things that, while not unique, are rare and costly and imaginative – the fox cubs are a lovely touch. And yet she has neither the education nor the grace to appreciate the gifts. Excellent story, Josh.
Thanks! The people seemed real to me as I wrote
He must have truly loved her. I never get the huge mismatched couples such as this. Sad that it takes a long illness to become aware.
Such is the human experience. Too often we take for granted the things we should cherish.
Karma is perfect here. I wonder though what she gave him in return, both before and after the illness? Intangibles are twisty biscuits…
“Intangibles are twisty biscuits…” – That’s a fabulous way of putting it!
:)
That’s the good news about hardship. Maybe she’ll come to take an interest in St. Thomas More
Very profound, Josh. I loved her casual dismissal of Utopia.
She probably appreciated it even more having not taken much interest in over the preceeding years.
True. We never realize what we have until that is ALL we have. Loved it.
Our circumstances do indeed tend to change our perceptions of what is important.
There’s a great lesson to be learned here! Brilliantly done!!
I suppose we’re all guilty of this in varying degrees, taking for granted the things that others would hold as precious. Well described and realised tale, Josh.
Wow, what an absolutely heart-stopping story. As so many have pointed out, the mismatch between the two partners is at once crushing and a bit comical. It reminded me of The Awakening, a story I read around the same time as I learned of the word utopia (probably another one she has not read) – and how there are things we take for granted…but also people.