Truly unconditional love is hard to find. When you do become lucky enough to be a part of a relationship where that magic exists, there’s nothing like it. And bestselling children’s author Amy Krouse Rosenthal was blessed enough to find the kind of romantic love that only exists in movies starring Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan.
When Amy went to the emergency room in September of 2015 for what she thought was appendicitis, she and her husband Jason were devastated to hear her given an unexpected diagnosis: ovarian cancer.
They had just sent off the last of their three grown children to college, and Amy and Jason had plans to travel, go on writing retreats, and to simply enjoy the time they would finally have alone together.
“No trip with my husband and parents to South Africa. No reason, now, to apply for the Harvard Loeb Fellowship. No dream tour of Asia with my mother. No writers’ residencies at those wonderful schools in India, Vancouver, Jakarta.”
What’s a wife to do when she finds herself terminally ill and without much time left?
If you’re a Rosenthal, you write the most beautiful letter ever penned in an effort to find your beloved the perfect new wife to fill his heart once you’re gone.
Here is a short excerpt:
In an essay written for The New York Times Modern Love column titled, “You May Want To Marry My Husband,” Amy lovingly describes Jason and what she hopes for his future after she passes.
“First, the basics: He is 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, with salt-and-pepper hair and hazel eyes.
He is a sharp dresser. Our young adult sons, Justin and Miles, often borrow his clothes. Those who know him — or just happen to glance down at the gap between his dress slacks and dress shoes — know that he has a flair for fabulous socks. He is fit and enjoys keeping in shape.
Jason loves listening to live music; it’s our favorite thing to do together. I should also add that our 19-year-old daughter, Paris, would rather go to a concert with him than anyone else.”
I want more time with Jason. I want more time with my children. I want more time sipping martinis at the Green Mill Jazz Club on Thursday nights. But that is not going to happen. I probably have only a few days left being a person on this planet.”
I am wrapping this up on Valentine’s Day, and the most genuine, non-vase-oriented gift I can hope for is that the right person reads this, finds Jason, and another love story begins.”
These words were painful to read knowing this woman, whose adoration for her husband clearly shines through her words, won’t be around forever. And at the same time, it’s quite charming to know she is selfless enough to want Jason, the love of her life, to find a new love and start a new chapter.
For the record, Amy, Jason and their beautiful family aren’t content to focus only on their own wishes.
A video posted to Rosenthal’s YouTube channel in January of 2017 details a project she undertook through her most recent work, Textbook. According to the video captions:
“In this book, Amy invites readers to send a good luck message — for themselves or someone else. Every January 1st, all wishes will be gathered, placed in a bottle, and tossed out to sea. Between August 9 and December 31, we received over 800 messages. We filled 6 bottles with these wishes.”
Amy Krouse Rosenthal, you are one strong, talented, and inspirational woman.
It sounds like Jason is a pretty good catch, as well.
We wish the Krouse Rosenthal family peace and love during this difficult time.
Source:yourtango.com