ECLIPSE
by Marie Delgado Travis
I attended the Cyndi Lauper concert with my heart near the breaking point. I hesitate to reveal the reason, because I know that in this age of cynicism, it is difficult for others to comprehend the concept of a pure and perfect love: the kind that would rather immolate itself than to hurt another.
Someone I cared for more than he could imagine was returning to his own very dangerous country in South America. He had worked in my building on a temporary visa, as one of the valets, who greeted us at the door, parked cars and helped with our packages, groceries and luggage. Most of the residents may have seen him merely as a servant. But I am convinced that he was a prince in disguise. For without so much as a kiss, he awakened me from slumber and reminded me that I still existed.
Although he was much younger than I, a married woman, I began to look forward to his bright smile whenever I returned home. I cherished our short, but illuminating, conversations in Spanish about the sentiments in life that really mattered. Little by little, we revealed ourselves to each other. He was orphaned at 17 and forced with the terrible decision of having his mother’s body cremated. She was a lawyer, only middle-aged, when she was killed in a car accident, ejected from the door on the passenger side, as the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming car. Law would have been his own career path, had he not been forced by those sad circumstances to take over the family farm. He was now in the States to fulfill his dream of learning English.
Like the valet, I too had recently left a warm Latin environment where neighbors were family to find myself in a cold environment, where the only topic on everyone’s politically correct lips seemed to be the weather. ¨Is it cold enough or hot enough for you? ¨-- as if something could be done about it anyway. Here was someone caring enough to ask questions about my childhood and my interests, who asked to see photographs of my travels, who shared his gift of poetry with me. Gradually, I began to feel alive again, that my life did have meaning beyond domestic life, that more than just somebody’s Mrs., I was still very much someone of value in my own right.
As the date of his departure drew closer, I sensed that, in all probability, I would never see him again in this lifetime. We both consoled ourselves with assurances that we would meet in the next. But the sorrow of losing someone who, more than a friend, had become my soul mate -- the inspiration of some of my most beautiful and heartfelt poetry – was more than I could bear.
Immersed again in loneliness, I felt an inexplicable longing to hear what I thought was Cyndi’s song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart." I only vaguely recalled the lyrics:
And I need you here tonight,
And I need you more than ever.
And if you'll only hold me tight,
We'll be holding on forever.
Cyndi’s concert performance was powerful, particularly her moving rendition of "True Colors,” another of my favorite songs:
I see your true colors
Shining through.
I see your true colors.
That's why I love you.
Throughout her performance, I kept thinking, "Now she'll sing ´Eclipse´... now she'll sing it." Then finally, trying to mask my disappointment, "Why, surely then, it'll be her closing number." I didn’t realize that it wasn’t Cyndi’s song at all. When I arrived home, I dejectedly looked the title up on the web, to find that it was, in fact, Bonnie Tyler’s signature song.
Within a few weeks, my husband and I found ourselves in London, England, looking for a place to eat after attending the theatre. I remembered something I loved to do as a child, and said, "Let's follow our feet and see where they take us!" We walked along the Strand saying to each other, "What about this place?" and we'd scrunch our noses, "No, not enough ambiente." Our feet continued to lead the way, searching for a place with perfect ambience. Finally, we came upon a restaurant called "PJ's," which had a colorful, pub-like atmosphere. We hesitated for a moment, since it was extremely noisy and crowded. But we determined that, if we could possibly get in for dinner, "This is the place!"
A friendly waiter escorted us to what he said was the last available table in the back of the restaurant. No sooner had we settled into our chairs, a slim, blonde English woman, smartly dressed in a business suit, but by then, well into her cups, came up to our table. Looking at me directly, she said, ¨"Pardon me, Miss. I’m not pissing you or anything..." I held my breath, wondering if she was trying to start a brawl. Then she continued, "My girlfriends and I were wondering if, by any chance, you know the lyrics to "Total Eclipse of the Heart." by Bonnie Raitt.¨ I stared at her in total amazement and gulped, "Tyler. Bonnie Tyler. Um, yes. I do know it. Please give me a moment to see if I can recall the words."
She returned to her friends at the table across the room, while I tried to compose myself and evoke, first the tune and then the lyrics. It wasn't easy, given the loud background music, clatter of dishes and animated chatter in the pub. My heart was racing. What a bizarre encounter! Slowly, from within, came the melody. Then the words. ¨"Turn around, bright eyes." The song and a small tear now flowed effortlessly from my heart.
I excused myself to my husband and approached her table. As soon as I began to sing the lyrics, softly, she and her friends remembered and sang the song loudly over and over again, until their eyes were filled with tears, as well. That was December 10th, the same day my friend was returning to his country. I would miss him by just a day. Too late for a last sad, tender hug – the one that might have made him stay forever.
Isn’t God awesome? He even sends angels to SING to us, when we need it! Ah, -- and I still tremble as I write this -- there were still a few miracles in store. Upon my return, one of the first things I did was to gently place my hand on the back door of our apartment, the service entrance, where he and I saw each other for the last time. As I touched the wood, I was suddenly shaken by a strong current of electricity that ran through my entire body. I have since tried to duplicate this phenomenon, but it happened just that once, as if his spirit lingered only long enough to see me home safely and greet me for the last time.
Closing my eyes, I relived the beauty of our parting moment. My flowing blonde hair. His comely face, as pale as moonlight. Wistfully, I thought how that last yearning look could easily have set the building ablaze. But despite the longing, the reality was that too many differences separated us. And above all, too many vows.
One day, as my heart continued to mend quietly, I received a letter from him. Resettled in his homeland and completely unaware of the song that had accompanied me in my sorrow, he had written in Spanish:
"The sun and the moon each rise and set at different times throughout the day. But they need to see each other only once to fall in love forever. May the wondrous aura of our eclipse last eternally."¨
In all things, dear Lord, thank you.
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