“A Quiet Love”

“A Quiet Love”
Paula C Snyder —Special Guest Contributor

Though both elderly, my mother (then late 70s) and her husband (mid 80’s), were in great physical & mental health and very active. They volunteered at the hospital, assisted friends & family in times of need, took classes, traveled, entertained at home, and socialized out often. Since they met, they’d been so happy to be together, always affectionate, supportive, and loving. I felt they were the ideal couple.

My mother and her husband were getting ready to celebrate their anniversary when they found out he had a malignant brain tumor. So, I watched my mother fight for him, push doctors to pursue a surgical biopsy. I watched him calmly, (and with good humor), go through the treatment and all its dire side effects. They continued to go out with friends and regularly joined us for family gatherings. They gazed lovingly into each others’ eyes and hoped to share their next anniversary. I watched as he struggled with loss of speech and motor control. Still, they shared their love. It came to me – “A Quiet Love”, I thought. Not the fiery, crazy, kind of love, but the sure and steady love that holds tight through thick and thin. Though the physical passion of new young love may have been lacking, they had a lifetime of forever love. “A Quiet Love”.

I wrote some poetry about it for my mother & presented it to her as a memento when he passed away. Last year I put it to music. Just before my mother’s birthday this year, I recorded it in a studio. Then, I prepared a CD with an every day - “Quiet Love” - kind of photo of the two of them together during better times. I gave it to her as a birthday gift. She was touched. And I am hoping, in my years to come, I will be able to hold on to love and experience it like my mother did. “A Quiet Love”.

About Paula C Snyder
Paula, musician-songwriter, performed throughout the US in her early career, later also acting as musician’s booking agent in the Northwest. After a long family hiatus, Paula returned to solo performing in 2003. At the age of 55, Paula finally studio recorded her debut CD. “Renewed”, an original compilation including selections from the past & newly penned material, contains threads of blues, jazz, folk, & pop. Paula currently performs her original music publicly, and also regularly entertains in senior residential communities with Nostalgia & Show Tune favorites. Nostalgic theme sets, and more original songs are in the works including some child-grandparent friendly material. Born in Detroit, MI, Paula currently resides in Raleigh. Visit Paula’s official website at www.pcsnydermusic.com.

NOTE: “A Quiet Love” is available as a single MP3 download and in sheet music. View lyrics & sample the audio at http://www.pcsnydermusic.com/lyrics_aquietlove.html