You are the man for me.

When we were in Istanbul, Jerry and Arian met

this man who works for the US consulate in Istanbul.

Actually, Arian met him at a bar one night and later,

they ended up hanging out.  When he met Arian, he

gave him a copy of a music CD he’d produced after

his wife Barbara passed away.  One night in the hotel,

Arian showed me the CD, which had all the lyrics printed

on the inside.  There was one song in particular that I found

very moving.  Actually, it made me cry. I found the words

written on a slip of paper from the Marmara Pera

hotel in Istanbul in my wallet this morning.  I copied

it down one night while we were waiting to hear

one of the many visa approval verdicts in Jerry’s hotel

room.  I wanted to remember it because

I thought to myself, this is real love.   I’ll spare you the

entire story, and just share the lyrics. 

 

You are the man for me.

 

Though it broke her heart when we realized

I am not the man she idealized, she said to me

that she realized,

You are the man for me.  You are the man for me.

Other men, she said, would not let me be, but you

understood and you set me free.  I was scared at first,

but now I see. 

You are the man for me.  You are the man for me.

She went deep inside, trying to explain

all the meanings for all the hurt and pain.

She concluded when she emerged again,

You are the man for me.  You are the man for me.

Then one night she passed away,

I was desolate, drowning in dismay.

Through my tears and grief I could hear her say,

You are the man for me.  You are the man for me.

 

Love.  It hurts, it’s messy, it’s imperfect.

It’s also divine, fantastic, and magnificent.

With all it’s bumps, ups, and downs,

it’s still the best thing that can happen to any of us…

I wish you a beautiful and love filled day.