Don’t Throw Me Away

I am sorry I have not updated much lately. When I do get a chance to write lately, I have been putting more of that time an effort into my poetry blog.

Erin and I celebrated our five year anniversary a week or so ago. It was a fabulous day. We didn’t have a ton of money. So we spent the day in Grand Rapids. We went to good will and other consignment shops. At good will we purchased a maxell 90 min blank tape with Michael Jackson’s Thriller dubbed onto one side (from vinyl). We road around and listened to Beat It and Billie Jean and then to some kids who recorded over part of it with their band instruments probably about 20 years ago. It was great fun. While we were consignment shopping though, I couldn’t help but think a bit about how much we consume and quickly cast aside in this country. I perused through the fashions of yesteryear that someone just had to have at one time. Now Tommy, Calvin Klein and Wrangler jeans sit side by side in the bargain bin. 27 inch t.v.s the size of the one I spent $300 on a few years ago (and still use) sat on the floor with price tags reading $20 because everyone is converting to digital receivers and hi-def screens.

But what really got under my skin was a mix cd with a homemade cover that read “Matthew and Coleen July 12, 2003.” By the playlist and the picture of a floral bouquet featuring sunflowers on the front it was in all likelihood a wedding mix for Matthew and Coleen. It has bothered me ever since. What has happened to Matthew and Coleen? Did they throw their love aside like a pair of Tommy jeans. How did their wedding mix cd end up on the shelf with a homemade copy of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I asked Erin to tell me a story – a happy story – about how the cd found its way to good will. The story was Matthew and Coleen made extra copies as their gift to their wedding guest and it was one of them who donated the cd. Matthew and Coleen are still happily married and just celebrated their 5 year anniversary a few weeks before we did. That was the story. And it helped.

But I still have that sick feeling in the pit of my gut just thinking about it and tonight I am praying for Matthew and Coleen whoever they are, wherever they are.

Shalom,
Wayne